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"Dame Curtsey's" Book of 
Games for Children 



The "Dame Curtsey" Books 



" Dame Curtsey's " Book of Novel Enter- 
tainments for Every Day in the Year. 
Illustrated. $1.00 net. 

*• Dame Curtsey's " Book of Guessing 

Contests. 50 cents net. 

More Guessing Contests. 50 cents net. 

" Dame Curtsey's " Book of Etiquette. 
50 cents net. 

" Dame Curtsey's " Book of Recipes. 
Illustrated. $1.00 net. 

*' Dame Curtsey's " Book of Party 
Pastimes for the Up-to-Date Hostess. 
Frontispiece. $1.00 net. 

" Dame Curtsey's " Book of Candy 
Making. Frontispiece. 50 cents net, 

"Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games for 
Children. 50 cents net. 

A. C. McCLURG & CO., Publishers 
Chicago 



1 



"Dame Curtsey's" Book of 
Gaines for Children 

For Indoors and Outdoors and 
All Occasions 

Edited By 

Ellye Howell Glover 

Author of " 'Dame Curtsey's* Book of Guesslngr Cofitests," " 'Dame 

Curtsey V Book of Novel Entertainmeiits,*' '"Dame 

Curtsey*s* Book of Candy Making," etc. 




Chicago 

A, C. McClurg & Co. 

1914 



G,^^ 






Copyright 

A. C. McClurg & Co. 

1914 



Published September, 1914 



SEP 21 I9J4 



. F. HALL PRINTING C0^f1PANY, CHICAaO 



0)GI,A380513 



Foreword 

THE demand for games and pastimes for children 
between the ages of three and fifteen has been 
such as to show " Dame Curtsey '' and the pub- 
lishers the need of a collection of entertainments to 
enable mothers and teachers to supply amusements for 
any and all occasions. Great care has been taken in 
compiling this book, and all schemes will be found prac- 
ticable. It is designed to assist in planning many a 
delightful party, solving the problem of *' something to 
do " when rainy days come. Herein will be found games 
for indoors and out, some of them new and some old, 
and some from foreign lands. E. H. G. 

August, 1914. 



Contents 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I Bon Voyage Gifts 15 

II A Bunny Party 16 

III A Valentine Post Office Party 17 

IV Another Valentine Party 18 

V A Children's Lawn Party 19 

VI For the Eastertide 21 

VII A Jolly '^Animal" Game 23 

VIII Animal Blind Man's Buff 24 

IX A June Birthday Party 24 

X For July Fourth 25 

XI A Cobweb Doll Party 27 

XII A Sewing Party for a Dolly 28 

XIII A Paper Doll Party 28 

XIV A Doll Birthday Party 29 

XV A Sale for Dolly 30 

XVI A Doll's Wedding 31 

XVII Pretty Christmas Table 33 

XVIII A Christmas Tree for the Baby 34 

XIX For the Birds' Christmas 35 

XX Red Balloons for a Holiday Party 35 

XXI Christmas Snowballs 36 

XXII A Santa Claus Party . 37 

XXIII " Puss in Boots " at Christmas 38 

XXIV Invitation Jingle for a Christmas Party ... 39 
XXV Poinsettia Birthday Party 39 

XXVI A Christmas Post Office 41 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



CHAPTER PAGE 

XXVII The Game of Christmas Candle 41 

XXVIII A Christmas Pastime for Children .... 42 

XXIX Unique Holiday Party 43 

XXX For the Closing of School 44 

XXXI The Game of "Pass It" 47 

XXXII Music for Children 48 

XXXIII Novel Birthday Party 49 

XXXIV Snow Men for Children's Party ..... 50 
XXXV A New "Garden" Party 51 

XXXVI "Up Jenkins" 52 

XXXVII Indian Geographical Names 53 

XXXVIII Christmas Tree Party 54 

XXXIX Old-Fashioned Games 56 

XL Shut-in Day Amusements 58 

XLI A Bluebird Party 59 

XLII A Caramel Hunt 59 

XLIII Fun with Soap Bubbles 60 

XLIV Chinese Game for Children 61 

XLV Advertising Pictures 62 

XLVI Drummer Boy 62 

XLVII A Scotch Game 63 

XLVIII Letter Game 63 

XLIX A Fairy Gift Bag 64 

L Passing Pennies 65 

LI A Cranberry Hunt 66 

LII A Field Day Party 66 

LIII An Easter Party for Children 67 

LIV A Spring Paper Chase 68 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



CHAPTER PAGE 

LV A Merry April Fool Party 70 

LVI Fire Buckets "^2 

LVII Stagarino 72 

LVIII An After-Dinner Trick . 73 

LIX Deft Finger Test ^2> 

LX Character and Object 74 

LXI A Bird Party 74 

LXII "Buzz" 75 

LXIII "Lady Jane" ^(, 

LXIV The Minister's Cat ^6 

LXV Novel Birthday Party Decorations .... "]*] 

LXVI The Daisy Chain 78 

LXVII A Football Party ^% 

LXVIII A Knickerbocker Party 80 

LXIX Bobbing for Apples 81 

LXX The Flour Stunt 81 

LXXI A Ship Party 82 

LXXII Fairy Party 83 

LXXIII Blowing the Cone 84 

LXXIV Matching Partners 85 

LXXV A Birthday Custom 85 

LXXVI An April Party 86 

LXXVII " Bell " Blind Man's Buff 87 

LXXVIII A New Blind Man's Buff 88 

LXXIX Bag and Wand 89 

LXXX "Number" Blind Man's Buff 89 

LXXXI Playing Menagerie 90 

LXXXII Chestnut Brownies 90 



I 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



CHAPTER PAGE 

LXXXIII A Hallowe'en Party Invitation 91 

LXXXIV Patriotic Entertainment 91 

LXXXV Sunday Pastimes for Children 94 

LXXXVI A Baby's Birthday Party 95 

LXXXVII Hallowe'en Fun 96 

LXXXVni Games for the Sand Pile or Beach .... 97 

LXXXIX A Baby Parade 99 

XC An Unique Musicale 100 

XCI Guessing Noses loi 

XCn Portraying Nature with Bible Verses . . . 102 

XCni Pastime for February Twenty-Second . . . 103 

XCIV For a Birthday Child 103 

XCV "Catches" for Idle Moments 104 

XCVI For a Child's Christmas 105 

XCVII A Snowball Christmas 105 

XCVIII " Bird Sellers " 106 

XCIX At the Sign of the Holly 106 

C Santa Claus Puzzle Game 108 

CI Christmas Fun 108 

CII May-Day Fun 109 

cm An Old- Fashioned Thanksgiving 11 1 

CIV May-Day Parties 113 

CV Russian Hole-Ball 114 

CVI A "Grandmother's" Tea Party 115 

CVII A Buttercup Party 116 

CVIII Sweet Pea Tea Party for Children .... 118 

CIX The Glad Thanksgiving Time 119 

CX A Kite Party 120 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



CHAPTER PAGE 

CXI Following the Flag Contest 122 

CXII A Wonder Box 122 

CXIII Legomachy 124 

CXIV June Birthday Party 125 

CXV A Clothespin Party 127 

CXVI A Baseball Luncheon 129 

CXVII Stool-Ball (England) 130 

CXVIII A Juggling Match 130 

CXIX Pebble-Chase (Greek) 131 

CXX Buck the Indian 132 

CXXI Three Chinese Games 132 

CXXII New Version of a Peanut Party 134 

CXXIII A Lottery Bag 135 

CXXIV Japanese Tag . 136 

CXXV The "Sandpiper^' Game . 136 

CXXVI Giving a Pea Party .......... 137 

CXXVII A Jolly Easter Party 138 

CXXVIII Easter Tree 139 

CXXIX For a "Track Meet" 139 

CXXX A List of Forfeits 142 

CXXXI A Paper Party 143 

CXXXII A Doll Fete 144 

CXXXIII Easter Party for Little Folks 145 

CXXXIV An Animal Party .146 

CXXXV Circus Suggestions for Parties 147 

CXXXVI Moon and Morning Stars 148 

CXXXVII Cobbler Game for Wee Tots 149 

CXXXVIII A Bonnet Party 149 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



CHAPTER PAGE 

CXXXIX A Gypsy Party 150 

CXL Widower, or Last Couple Out 151 

CXLI A Hunting Game 152 

CXLII Duck on a Rock 153 

CXLIII "Sneeze" for the Children 154 

CXLIV A Clever After-Dinner Trick 154 

CXLV An Indian Party 155 

CXL VI United States Mail 155 

CXLVII Charades 156 

CXLVIII "Hop Over" 157 

CXLIX Fun with Buttons 158 

CL A Witch and Goblin Party 159 

CLI A Spool Party 160 

CLII A Jolly Outdoor Party 161 

CLIII An Indian Wigwam Party 162 

CLIV Stunts for a Musical Party 163 

CLV The Story Tent 164 

CLVI The Game of Deerfoot 164 

CLVII Human Ninepins 165 

CLVIII Barrel Hoop Bean Bag 166 

CLIX Royalty 166 

CLX New Bird Game 167 

CLXI Mystic Thoughts 168 

CLXII A Tree Picnic 169 

CLXIII Snake and Humming Birds 171 

CLXIV Fox and Geese 171 

CLXV A Vagabond Party 172 

CLXVI Clock Golf 173 



"Dame Curtsey's" Book of 
Games for Children 

I 

Bon Voyage Gifts 

FOR a young boy who was going to Europe, a girl 
friend made this charming gift whereby many an 
hour was happily spent, and it provided amuse- 
ment not only for him, but the grown-ups in the party 
enjoyed it quite as much. 

It was a blank book, the first pages containing ninety 
cleverly illustrated book " titles/' The " key " to this was 
given to the lad's mother. Then there were a number of 
pages ruled off forming a diary, covering the months of 
the journey. 

After this came snap shots of his own house, the street 
on which he lived, and of the children who were his 
playmates and friends. There were valentines from these 
chums, also Easter cards, April fool jokes, and Fourth of 
July souvenirs. The *' special '' pages were tied together 
with *' not to be opened till the date," written on the page 
preceding, and the boy's birthday pages were concealed in 
the same manner. 

Another "going away" gift was arranged for a baby 
of three years, who was to make the long month's 
voyage to South America. A friend provided a huge 

15 



''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

ball of worsted, with the instructions to unwind one 
" surprise " a day. The ball contained all sorts of little 
novelties, a top, dolls of various kinds, a tiny bottle of 
perfumery, a gay handkerchief, knife, pair of round- 
pointed scissors, small boxes of odd shapes filled with 
bonbons, toy animals, a coarse needle, threaded, and a 
number of large-holed buttons. 



II 

A Bunny Party 

THERE is a quaint old German legend of the Easter 
rabbit, and this party was planned to give the 
rabbit the prominence it has with the children of 
the " Fatherland." All grocers keep animal crackers, and 
will doubtless order a couple of pounds " all rabbits " for 
the occasion. Hide these about the rooms and provide 
baskets or bags for the spoils. Allow twenty minutes 
for the hunt. For prizes award a book about rabbits 
or some one of the Easter novelties with which the shops 
are filled. 

The next thing on the program was a rabbit race. 
The children were told to stoop down like " bunnies," and 
when the bell rang to start to hop to the goal, which was 
a spot at the other end of the room. Then each child 
was given a half -yard of ribbon, with which to make a 
bow to pin on a rabbit's neck. This may be a good-sized 
toy rabbit, or the game may be managed like the old- 

i6 



'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

fashioned "donkey*' party; only instead of pinning on 
the tail, the bow is pinned on the neck after the children 
are blindfolded. If there is a blackboard the guests 
may be allowed to show their artistic talents by drawing 
a rabbit, each artist signing his or her name to the 
masterpiece. This will afford amusement for another 
thirty minutes. Slips of paper and pencils will answer 
if there is no blackboard. 

Next chairs were arranged as for " Going to Jerusa- 
lem," and placed in the four corners of the room were 
four rabbits. When the music stopped the children made 
a dash for the bunnies, those securing the rabbits retiring 
from the game. The refreshments consisted of hard- 
boiled eggs, each one in a nest of lettuce, with sand- 
wiches and nuts. 

Ill 

A Valentine Post Office Party 

£ POST OFFICE was erected in the large hall 
/ \ from clothes bars covered with dark green cam- 
^ ^ brie on which quantities of red hearts were 
pasted. A window was placed in the opening, and a 
table behind for sorting the mail. A mail bag hung 
on the outside, and there was a slit below the window so 
as to permit the children dropping their valentines in. 
Each child brought one and the hostess provided the 
others, so that each child received at least three. A sign 
" office closed '' was over the window and then one " office 

17 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

open" was put up after all had arrived and were ready 
for the distribution of the mail. United States mail uni- 
forms may be purchased at the large department stores 
and the postmaster might wear one, just to add fun. 

Here is a new version of an old game called "blind 
postman" to be played at this party: Count out and 
choose a child for postman, then each child selects the 
name of a city and takes a chair in the circle. The 
postman is blindfolded, stands in the middle, and says: 
**A letter has been sent from New York to Chicago." 
Then those two children change places and the postman 
tries to get a vacant chair. Tiny mail bags may be found 
at the favor counter, filled with candy hearts ; they may 
be given as favors at this party. 



Another Valentine Party 

ISSUE the invitations on heart-shaped cards, preferably 
of pink, and decorate them with little pink hearts cut 
from thin cardboard. These hearts may be purchased 
by the hundred if there is not time to make them at home. 
Have ready on a large sheet of white paper the drawing 
of a man, just the head and shoulders. Place this on the 
wall, then blindfold a child and give him or her a bright 
red cardboard heart. Turn the victim around three times 
and then tell him to walk to the man on the wall and pin 
the heart to its place. The result is laughable. Next 

i8 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

hang from the doorway or the ceiling a heart made 
heavy enough so it will hold the string down within 
reach of the guest. Give him a pair of scissors and 
walk him once around the room with final instructions 
to walk to the heart and cut it down. 

After this a quiet game will be acceptable, so pass cards 
with the word "valentine" at the top in fancy letters. 
Allow fifteen minutes for making as many words as pos- 
sible out of the one word. Collect the cards and award 
a prize for the most or fewest words just as the hostess 
decides. Small prizes should be awarded winners of the 
first two games, as it always adds zest to work for some- 
thing. There are so many pretty symbolic favors that 
are inexpensive. 

If the hostess desires she may ask each child to bring 
one valentine, which must be dropped in a box as they 
arrive. Just before serving refreshments give each one 
a pencil and tell the girls to address a valentine to the 
boys, and the boys to the girls. (All the valentines should 
be in envelopes.) 

V 

A Children's Lawn Party 

REMEMBER, children are the most satisfactory of 
all guests, the very fact of dressing and going to a 
party and bringing home the spoils is bliss. Pro- 
vide little baskets or dainty tissue paper bags in which to 
put the favors and candies, and even the cake, for some 
children love to take samples home. 

19 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

Now for the party. We will need a lawn, some trees, 
and a big porch, and then with these accessories there 
must be a big bowl of lemonade on hand under a Jap- 
anese umbrella, the stake or handle being driven into the 
ground. Children are always thirsty and this will pre- 
vent them from running into the house for a drink every 
five minutes. Hide animal crackers over the grounds and 
tell the guests there is a whole menagerie hidden imder 
the bushes, in the grass, and even in the branches of the 
trees ; give each one a paper bag in which to put the game 
and give a little prize to the one who finds the most. A 
small flag may be hidden and that will make anothei hunt, 
the gay little '' stars and stripes '' being pinned on the 
lucky finder. 

The " eats " will be tKe climax of the party and the 
cake should be lighted with due ceremony and the chil- 
dren allowed to blow out the candles. Cunning favors 
are made by sticking animal crackers together with icing, 
and thus made they will stand upright at each plate. 
Delicious small cookies may be ornamented with daisies 
made from blanched almonds, the stem and leaves of 
angelica; fasten them on with frosting. 

Snapping motto caps always give pleasure, and some- 
times the Christmas tree sparkles are obtainable at this 
season, and they are lovely set to going outdoors, and are 
not harmful. 

Ice cream may be served in orange halves, thus making 
baskets with smilax for handles. Orange ice is very good 
served this way and is not so rich as ice cream. The 

20 



'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

party stationery that comes for parties is a joy to use for 
the invitations and the " Sunbonnet '* baby cards are 
attractive also. The *' five and ten cent store " will fur- 
nish any number of trifles for a fish pond if one cares for 
this, or for a grab bag, or, better still, for a '' fairy tree." 
Tie the parcels onto the low branches and let each child 
clip off one with a pair of scissors. Anything that makes 
for mystery is an adjunct to a child's party. 



VI 
For the Eastertide 

May the glad dawn 
Of Easter morn 
Bring holy joy to thee. 

This message, sweet and holy, 

Tired souls forget your pain ; 
Christ, the Lord, for you is risen ; 

Doubting hearts. He lives again. 

May the calm eve 

Of Easter leave 

A peace divine with thee. 

MOTHERS with little children always have Easter 
eggs to color. An easy and satisfactory method 
is to use the aniline dyes that come especially 
prepared for this purpose. If directions are followed 
there will be good results. The name and date, which 

21 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

will greatly delight the child, may be written on the egg 
with a pointed stick dipped in melted lard before placing 
in the dyestuff . When removed all will be colored except 
the writing. 

By the way of variety, paint some of the eggs with gold 
and silver paint, dip others in a solution of gum arabic 
and then in diamond dust, wrap some in colored calico 
that is warranted to fade and boil for half an hour. This 
way was about the only method known to our grand- 
mothers for decorating the annual eggs. " Calico '* eggs 
and those colored a vivid magenta by the use of cochineal 
were very dear to childish hearts " a long time ago.'* 

Baskets may be arranged in neat form by using tissue 
paper cut in fine strips; all sorts of dainty receptacles 
may be concocted from boxes, crepe paper and a bottle 
of paste. Children enjoy these preparations, so let the 
little ones have a share in planning for this beautiful 
festival season. 

Eggs for breakfast on Easter are served as a matter 
of course. Let each one choose how his or her egg is to 
be cooked. Only a little more time will be consumed and 
much will be added to the interest of the meal. For a 
centerpiece have a large nest filled with colored eggs and 
spring flowers. 



28 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

VII 
A Jolly "Animal" Game 

HAVE two tables with six at each (any number 
can play, however), but over six requires two 
packs of cards. This is the way to do it : 

A deck of playing cards is dealt evenly among the 
players. Then each places his cards face downward in 
front of him, first a name of an animal being given to 
each player, such as elephant, snail, leopard, giraffe. 
The person on the left of the dealer takes the top card 
off his pile, placing it face upward on the table. Suppos- 
ing this card is the nine spot, then the next player lays 
his top card on the table. If it should happen to be a 
nine spot, too, the one who first calls the animal name 
of the other wins, giving him the card. The player who 
gets rid of all his cards first wins the game. If the 
card does not match the next person turns a card. 

Sometimes as many as twenty cards will be forced 
upon a player whose wits desert him and he cannot 
quickly remember the animal name. The whole pile 
goes when the top cards match. The game continues 
only until there are two players. The others must sit 
absolutefy quiet ; if a word is spoken each player makes 
the unlucky one take a card and start all over again. 
This is a most amusing game, even for grown-ups. 



23 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

VIII 

Animal Blind Man's Buff 

I FIND many versions of old-time games ; for instance, 
this way of playing our old favorite, " Blind Man's 
Buff : *' Seat the children in a circle, or they may 
stand. The leader is chosen by the time-honored custom 
known as " counting out,'' blind-folded and placed in the 
middle. He is given a cane; he then walks around the 
circle, stops and points the cane, the one it touches or 
comes closest to must repeat in a disguised tone the noise 
made by either a cat, dog, cow, or horse. He may repeat 
the sound three times. If the blind man cannot guess 
who it is he must try some one else; if he names the 
right child, that one takes the place of the leader. 

IX 
A June Birthday Party 

AS June is the month of roses, have one for each 
child. It is quite a new idea to have as many little 
cakes as there are guests, all put together on a big 
round plate, a candle in each one held in a candy rose or 
regular rose candle holder. When it is time to pass the 
cakes each child blows out a candle and takes one. Serve 
ice cream, peppermint candies, sandwiches, and cocoa 
with a marshmallow in each cup. Have an animal 
cracker hunt and a " fish pond " for amusement. 



Dame Curtsey's^' Book of Games 



For July Fourth 

That the time may pass more gaily, 
And the guests be more contented. 

NOW, with our saner " Fourth," I fancy mothers are 
having a much more peaceful time, for they are 
quite certain that " Tom," " Dick," and " Harry " 
will come in with the requisite number of arms and legs 
and with two eyes where they belong, but I have my 
secret doubts as to whether the average small boy of 
today will have the memories to gloat over that his 
father did before him. With cannon crackers tabooed 
(thanks be to the law) we must find appropriate pastimes 
that will still have a significance of the glorious day we 
celebrate. 

The children must be amused and it concerns us to do 
it. So get out a big sheet of drawing paper and with a 
heavy pencil or crayon draw the American eagle with 
tail and wings outspread. Leave the large feathers off 
of the wings and get an obliging butcher to save you one 
nice big wing and tail feathers. Blindfold the players 
and proceed as in the time-honored ** donkey " party, 
only instead of pinning on a tail the game is to put a 
pinion in '* Old Abe's " wing, and the child who pins on 
the most in three trials will be rewarded by a fire cracker 
box filled with candy fire crackers. 

25 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

The shops have all sorts of symbolic novelty favors 
for this day we celebrate with such brave display of 
'' Stars and Stripes." 

The following is a good contest: A small boy told 
his mother what he wanted and the answers are the 
articles she brought him. Ornament the cards bearing 
the questions with bows of red, white, and blue ribbon 
and tie a wee pencil to each card. 



Articles Necessary for an "Unsane Fourth" 

1. A powerful submarine weapon of offense. 

2. A destroying element and an accompaniment to an 
oyster stew. 

3. An ancient civilization and a feeble means of light. 

4. A woman's toilet necessity and part of a wagon. 

5. A color and a means of warmth. 

6. The chief implement of warfare. 

7. A two-wheeled vehicle and the peak of a house. 

8. Where nature's wealth is stored. 

9. A kind of stone used in paving. 

10. Bardolph's companion in King Henry IV. 

11. One kind of headgear. 

12. What a wise mother does not do to her baby. 

13. A carnation with u instead of i. 

14. A musical organization and a long lapse of time. 

15. An Irishman's name, a disorderly uprising, and an 
intellectual fad. 

26 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 





Answers 


I. Torpedoes. 


9. Flag. 


2. Fire-crackers. 


10. Pistol. 


3. Roman candles. 


II. Caps. 


4. Pinwheels. 


12. Rock it (Rocket). 


5. Red fire. 


13. PinkP(u)nk. 


6. Guns. 


14. Band-ages. 


7. Cart-ridge. 


15. Pat-riot-ism. 


8. Mines. 





XI 



A Cobweb Doll Party 

THIS party was given for little girls aged from 
six to nine. Arrange like a cobweb party, using 
colored cords all starting from one place with 
the name of each girl on a card fastened to the cord. 
Let them wind up the strings and at the end of each 
have an inexpensive dolly, with only its undershirt on. 
Then go into another room and on a clothes bar or line 
have the name of each child pinned to the dress that 
belongs to her doll. Dressing the babies will occupy 
at least a half hour. At the table have paper dolls for 
the place cards, and the cookies should be cut in doll 
shape. 

27 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XII 

A Sewing Party for a Dolly 

A GIRL of ten entertained her little friends by 
giving a doll party. She asked a dozen doll 
mothers to bring their favorite child and spend 
the hours from three until five. Gay silk pieces, odds 
and ends of lace were provided, and each child made 
one article for her doll. 

The place cards were tiny dolls, each one dressed 
differently, and tied on its arm was a wee basket with 
the doirs name tied on the handle. Boxes in shape of 
little trunks contained the candy. 

The girls enjoyed this delicious menu: Minced chicken 
sandwiches, cocoa with whipped cream, ice cream in 
small flower pots with a pink carnation "growing'* in 
it, assorted cakes ornamented with tiny china dolls, and 
fluffy tgg kisses. 

XIII 
A Paper Doll Party 

THE invitations were sent out for 2 o'clock, with 
a request to bring scissors. On the appointed 
- hour a gay party of ten-year-olds had assembled 
and were seated at sewing tables. Each child was 
allowed to select from a colored fashion sheet the dress 
she liked best. This took some time. Heads had pre- 
viously been cut out of advertisements. Then the head 

28 



*'Dame Curtsey's*' Book of Games 

was mounted on the dress. This made one kind of a 
doll. Then tissue paper, lace paper, and all sorts of odds 
and ends of paper were put on the table, and dresses 
were made for paper dolls that stand in little blocks and 
may be purchased for a trifle. Paste was provided and a 
busy hour was spent. 

A prize of a pair of round-pointed scissors in a little 
case delighted the child who made the prettiest dress, the 
girls voting on this momentous question. 

The table was decorated with gayly dressed paper 
dolls, which the children took home as souvenirs, besides 
the dolls they had made. Cocoa, chicken sandwiches, 
and crullers in shape of dolls were served. The hostess 
said never before had she gotten through a party with so 
little fatigue and friction. Perhaps it was because the 
boys were not invited. But I think boys could be enter- 
tained in the same way, for the secret of keeping young- 
sters good is to keep them busy. 



XIV 

A Doll Birthday Party 

A LITTLE girl who dearly loved her doll conceived 
the happy idea of giving her a birthday party. 
No sooner thought of than the little girl and her 
mother put the thought into execution, with the result 
that seven girlies received invitations to bring their favor- 
ite doll to **Annabelle's " birthday party. The hours were 

29 



**Dame Curtsey's'* Book of Games 

from " 3 to s/' and it was indeed a pretty sight when the 
dolls and their mothers assembled around the daintily 
decorated table. Doll dishes were used and the small 
table was set entirely with miniature articles and the 
gifts brought the birthday doll were most fascinating, for 
everything that grown people have is now made for dolls. 
There were wee cakes with tiny pink tapers, which were 
lit, and the little mothers were just as grown up as pos- 
sible and looked after their respective children with true 
motherly solicitude. At a large table the real children 
had their repast, and I noticed that some of them ate the 
doll's portion also. When your six or seven-year-old 
daughter wants a party, try this. 



XV 

A Sale for Dolly 

A CLUB composed of ten girls from the age of ten 
to fifteen managed and made ready this bazaar, 
which they gave for a charity devoted to children. 
It was given in the afternoon at the home of one of the 
members. The room was arranged like a department 
store, with all articles belonging to dolls most attractively 
displayed. Now that there are patterns for dolls so that 
complete wardrobes may be made, the girls found it 
great fun to make the clothes, hats, muffs, etc., and 
orders were taken for all articles for doll houses, such 
as sheets, pillow cases, even with the doll's monogram 

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*^Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

embroidered, wee towels, wash cloths, etc. The mothers 
and big sisters of the girls served light refreshments, or 
rather donated them, and the girls served. 

XVI 

A Doll's Wedding 

THIS affair proved to be so interesting that I 
can hardly wait to tell all our little readers about it, 
and I fancy the grown-ups will be interested a bit, 
too. A dear grandmother told me about it and I imme- 
diately saw the possibilities for a "party,'' not only for 
dollies, but for their devoted mothers, big and little ; for 
some big girls love their dolls long after they are afraid 
to admit it. 

"Well," said grandmother, "Annette's engagement Is 
announced," and she handed me the tiniest envelope 
imaginable, sealed with a wee gilt heart. I opened it, 
took out the gilt-edged card and read the following, 
written in violet ink: 

Annette Melinda Fitz James 

Engaged to 

Sir Horace Algernon Travers 

August Thirtieth 

1913 

"Annette is my little granddaughter's favorite doll and 
she is coming with her ' mother * to visit me and you 
shall meet her." 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

And I did, hence this story : 

"Annette" came with her trunk full of pretty clothes 
and was the honored guest at luncheons, teas, and even 
card parties, at which diminutive packs of cards were 
used. Then there finally came the great event, the wed- 
ding day. When '' Sir Horace " and his best man arrived 
(taken from the trunk) the house (one corner of the 
drawing room) was decorated, aisles formed of white 
satin baby ribbon, and the bridal party marched down 
the aisles (with assistance, of course). 

The ceremony was performed by the doll minister in 
his robe and stole; the wedding breakfast was served; 
the bride changed her gown, threw her bouquet, and the 
happy pair stepped into the waiting automobile and went 
off for their wedding journey midst a shower of confetti 
and rice. 

All these events took place in one afternoon and a 
number of little girls participated with their dolls. 

I can only tell you briefly that there were wedding 
invitations, presents which went into the doll house and 
were displayed with the diminutive cards of the donors. 

Don't you see what good fun this was ? Just try it. 
Best of all is the preparation, so many dolls may be 
invited to take part, and on the "wedding day" I am 
sure mother will see to it that refreshments are forthcom- 
ing. I assure you there is much excitement in the events 
which follow in rapid succession. Girls even as old as 
fourteen will be interested in getting up this pretty 
pageant. 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XVII 

Pretty Christmas Table 

THE arrangement of this table was quite unusual, 
inasmuch as it was an old-fashioned square one, 
lengthened to accommodate twelve children. It 
was pushed back against the wall and at the back was the 
largest sized Yule log candy box resting on a bed of holly 
and mistletoe. On top of the log was a doll dressed as a 
jester, called the '' Lord of Misrule,'' and attached to the 
front end of the log by red ribbons were six dolls dressed 
to represent the first six months of the year. Following 
after the log were six more figures dressed like the last 
six months. 

At each plate was a horn covered with holly paper and 
a wee tree lit with red wax tapers. The children were to 
blow out the candles, making a wish for each one. If 
they go out with the very first puff, the wish will come 
true. A white and red Christmas ribbon goes to each 
plate, fastened by a spray of holly, then each child looks 
at the dolls and says which one he or she thinks repre- 
sents the month in which he was born. If there should 
be two in the same month, the one who is the oldest 
gets the doll for that month; as there is one for each 
guest, a satisfactory adjustment is easily made. The 
Yule log also contains small favors for each guest. 



33 



''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 



XVIII 

A Christmas Tree for the Baby 

"^■^UR tree last year was indeed a thing of beauty ;'■ 
I 1 said a young mother. The color scheme was 

^■^ white and silver, as befitted the tiny maiden for 
whom it was arranged. Each little sprig was tipped with 
a grain of popcorn, giving the eflfect of a snow-covered 
tree. The corn was fastened on with a pin, and it took 
several papers of pins to " snow ball '' this tree. Strings 
of popcorn were festooned from branch to branch. White 
tarlatan stockings, button-holed together with silver tin- 
sel, hung from the boughs. Walnut shells silvered con- 
taining wee dolls of china made acceptable souvenirs for 
the small guests. 

There was a plentiful sprinkling of silver tinsel thrown 
over the tree and all the candles were white. The pres- 
ents were done up in white paper tied with silver cord and 
in silver paper tied with white ribbon. Stars of silver 
sparkled in the topmost branches, and there were silver 
chains made kindergarten fashion. This pure white sil- 
very tree was pronounced the most beautiful one ever 
seen by the friends who were present when it was lighted. 



34 



**Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

XIX 

For the Birds' Christmas 

DO not forget our little feathered friends, but give 
them a Christmas tree. If you had not thought 
of it before, plan for one. 
Where there are children in the household they will 
love the idea. Take some suet and bones, some cracked 
nuts, some bread crumbs, even raw oatmeal or any of 
the uncooked breakfast foods, and scatter in the yard; 
tie bits of the suet to trees with a red apple or two. Then 
go inside and watch the delighted guests. In the North 
the chickadees, woodpeckers, blue jays, and sparrows 
ought to abound in grateful throngs. Don't forget the 
squirrels, and put out some nuts, even though they have 
helped destroy Qur gardens. They often have a hard 
time to exist when the snow is deep. At Christmas time 
we all should remember our dumb friends. 



XX 

Red Balloons for a Holiday Party 

IN cities balloons are almost always obtainable, so get 
bright red ones and try this novel scheme for a chil- 
dren's party. If it happens to be a birthday so much 
the better. Surround the cake with tiny candlesticks or 
candelabra holding red tapers, sprinkling the cloth with 

35 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

holly sprays and diamond dust (Christmas snow). Here 
is the way to give the favors (red snapping motto caps) : 
Tie one to the end of the string of a red balloon and let 
it go away up to the ceiling. If the snapper is not 
heavy enough weight it with a chocolate bonbon or 
one of the many hard all-chocolate shapes that children 
love. Then let each little guest catch a balloon and bring 
it down to earth. To make more fun each balloon may 
have a card attached bearing the name of a child, and 
each must find his own. 

XXI 

Christmas Snowballs 

PREPARE as many snowballs as there are guests. 
Make them by using a small toy or favor for the 
center, wind it with cotton until round in shape, 
then wrap in white tissue paper, dip in mucilage or liquid 
glue, then in diamond dust. These will dry over night 
and be ready for use the next day. Decorate two market 
baskets with holly and red ribbon and place on two chairs 
at the end of the room. Divide the company into equal 
sides, drop the balls in two long rows equally distant 
from each other, and at the word " Go " the children 
start from the chairs and get the farthest ball first. The 
side first getting all the balls back into the basket wins. 
It is a jolly time and each child has a ball to keep. It 
makes a little novelty in distributing the favors, and the 
children dearly love to tear open the balls and find the 

36 



**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

treasures inside. All the scraps of paper must be picked 
I up and put in the baskets. 

XXII 

A Santa Claus Party 

A SANTA CLAUS party is what a mother planned 
for her little daughter's sixth birthday which 
occurred ten days before Christmas. 
From the dining-room door, suspended by red ribbons, 
there was a large holly wreath and through this the chil- 
dren threw a pretty inflated ball of red rubber. When 
the ball went through the circle the successful child 
entered the dining-room. 

At a long kindergarten table the small guests were 
seated on little chairs. A miniature Santa Claus with a 
pack on his back and a cane in his hand stood in the 
center of the table, while around him were a number 
of artificial trees in toy-sized jardinieres. At either end 
of the table there was a wreath of holly, enclosing an- 
other tree. Red candles blazed from the mantel, plate 
rail, and table. Alphabet crackers spelled out the name 
of each child at the place where he or she sat. Snapping 
caps and confetti were the souvenirs, with sticks of 
candy. Sandwiches of entire wheat bread, with ice 
cream on which there was a red cherry, and an angel 
food birthday cake, were the refreshments served these 
little people. By the way, at children's parties it is quite 
the thing to serve the ice cream in ramekins. 

Z1 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book o£ Games 

Wires were stretched across the ceiling in all direc- 
tions, from which red Japanese lanterns and red Christ- 
mas bells were suspended. 



XXIII 
"Puss in Boots" at Christmas 

A MOTHER who is continually on the watch for 
novelties had this unusual centerpiece on her 
Christmas table when she entertained at a neigh- 
borhood children's party on Christmas afternoon. She 
took the idea from the Scandinavian custom of placing 
in a row all the shoes of the household on Yule night 
as a symbol that the family would live in peace and har- 
mony during the coming year. So all around the table 
were tiny red doll shoes filled with bonbons, and a red 
leather boot was in the middle of the table with red rib- 
bons going to each child's place. Gold lacing went up 
the front and a white pussy cat peered out of the top 
with a string of bells around his neck and holly leaves 
depending from the top of the boot. When the children 
pulled the ribbons a Christmas favor was forthcoming. 
Around. the ''boot" was a mound of snapping mottoes, 
gorgeous ones with a spray of holly attached and a chime 
of three gilt bells. 

Afterward they played a romping game of " Pussy 
Wants a Corner " and then had this contest, which was to 
pin a paper pussy cat on the top of a red cloth boot which 

38 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

was pinned upon the wall. Each child was blindfolded 
in turn and the prize was a scarlet tarlatan stocking filled 
with toys and favors. The ice cream was frozen in shape 
of white stockings with wee Christmas trees standing 
upright on individual white frosted cakes. The children 
were delighted with this party. 



s 



XXIV 

Invitation Jingle for a Christmas Party 

END the invitations written on little red stockings, 
inclosed in an ordinary envelope, with this jingle 
written in white ink : 



At the " Sign of the Stocking/' warm and bright, 
We '11 expect you sure on Christmas night ; 
The hour is six, so don't be late, 
A good time's coming, for you we wait. 

Hang a big red stocking in the window with a light 
behind it and the '' sign " will be visible for blocks. 

XXV 
Poinsettia Birthday Party 

OF late the tropical poinsettia has been very much in 
favor for decoration and gifts at the holiday time. 
In way of variety a mother issued these invita- 
tions for a little daughter's birthday that came close to 
Christmas. The cards bearing the message were of 

39 



'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

white, ornamented with poinsettia seals, and the envelopes 
were closed with them : 

Come to my poinsettia party, don't forget the place and day; 
As my invitation's hearty, kindly do not stay away. 

The table was lovely with a centerpiece of scarlet 
poinsettias in a round, gilded basket, glass candlesticks, 
and scarlet candles, a white iced individual cake at each 
child's place, with a wee red taper resting on a poinsettia 
doily. Crepe paper napkins ornamented with the same 
flower were used. Across one end of the dining room a 
red cord was stretched, on which hung a red filled stock- 
ing for each child, fastened on with a gilded clothespin. 
Cherry ice was served instead of ice cream, and the 
bonbon box was gay with a big red poinsettia fastened 
to the lid. The young hostess wore red slippers and a 
red hair ribbon. They had great fun playing a game 
that went like this: The first child said, *^I hung up 
my stocking," and the second asked: "What did you 
find in it ? " " Nuts," was the reply. Then the second 
child asked the next child what she found in her stocking, 
who said, '' Nuts," and added an article like '' candy." So 
the game went around, with the list unchanged. If a 
child forgot and left out an article she dropped out and 
the next one continued until the stocking was well filled. 



40 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XXVI 
A Christmas Post Office 

IN a large family it is great fun to deliver gifts through 
a Christmas post office arranged the week beforehand 
in a corner of the living room or hall. Rig up post- 
men's suits or uniforms for the small boys in the home 
and call them *' Santa Claus' assistants/' The day before, 
tell the postman on the beat that he is to deliver all his 
mail to the family postmaster, who will hold all Christ- 
mas mail for distribution on Christmas morning. The 
use of holiday labels and seals is so common that it will 
be very easy to distinguish letters and parcels that may 
hold over. If all members of the family and those who 
are to be numbered in the house party enter into this 
scheme it will work out satisfactorily, as I can personally 
testify. It does not take long to do up the packages and 
they may be stamped with *' play " postage stamps or can- 
celed ones ; there should be registered letter department, 
special delivery, etc. 

XXVII 

The Game of Christmas Candle 

HOW many have ever played the game of the 
''Christmas Candle?'' Try it this year and get 
all the grown people in it, fpr it is so very funny. 
Of course, it goes without saying that children will not 
attempt to play this without an older person, for I do 

41 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

not want to be responsible for any fires or burned fingers. 
This pastime comes to us from our English cousins and 
was a favorite way back in the time of Queen Elizabeth. 
Get a nice, long, fat candle, such as we see on church 
altars, light it, and choose one child to be the candle 
bearer and another to be the ''blower." Blindfold the 
latter, turn her around three times, and then tell her to 
blow out the candle. Just as likely as not she will start 
off in the opposite direction, while all the others giggle. 
If a long candle is not at hand take one of the little 
artificial trees that come with several lights. They will 
burn long enough for one trial. A little prize may be 
offered to the successful blower. 



XXVIII 

A Christmas Pastime for Children 

WHEN the children have tired of even their new 
possessions (and how soon the new becomes 
old!) and it is too early for the sandman to pay 
his nightly visit, try this simple amusement. Suspend a 
wreath of holly or evergreen from a doorway and give to 
each child an equal quantity of nuts, paper-wrapped can- 
dies, or favors that will stand handling, then see who can 
throw the most articles through the wreath into a basket 
placed to catch them. Give a simple reward to add zest 
to the game. 

In the same manner the game of '* Toss '* is conducted. 

42 



''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

Take a large napkin or piece of stout paper. Place a lot 
of nuts or hard candies in the center. Let a child take 
hold of each corner and give three vigorous tosses, 
singing : 

Goodies, goodies, dance, my Christmas goodies. 

Up they go, down they go ; dance, my Christmas goodies. 

Then there will be a lively scrimmage to see who can 
recover the most. 

These little devices will make a jolly ending to the 
happiest day in the year for the children. Put them to 
bed with pretty songs ringing in their ears: 

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight, 
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and whi;.e, 
Christmas where cornfields lie sunny and bright 
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight. 



A 



XXIX 

Unique Holiday Party 

T a jolly party for twenty youngsters, this scheme 
was carried out. Invitations like these went to 
those bidden : 

There is an old lady 

Who lives in a shoe, 
Santa Claus has left her so many stockings 

She does n't know what to do. 

Will you come and help her solve the difficulty at eight o'clock? 

43 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

Name and date followed. When the guests arrived 
they found the hostess standing in a room mysterious 
with various colored cords running in all directions. She 
explained that the name of each guest was written on a 
stocking-shaped card attached to the end of one of the 
cords, and just imagine the score of merry lads and 
lassies finding themselves and then winding their strings 
until the end was reached in a stocking of tarlatan which 
contained a charming little favor from the hostess — 
who, by the way, is a middle-aged woman whose heart 
has never grown old. She entertains each year during 
the holidays, and always has something different. This 
time the ice cream was in shape of bells, served on plates 
wreathed with holly. The dining-room table had an 
enormous bell over it, and the place cards were stocking- 
shaped, the nut holders being little wooden shoes. 



XXX 

For the Closing of School 

THIS little scheme is very pretty and not difficult to 
work out. It is called '' Childhood's Happy Year." 
Select four girls about the same age and size to 
form each "season." Make the costumes from crepe 
paper and represent " Spring " by green frocks with 
wreaths of green about the head ; " Summer ^' with white 
frocks and crowns and roses, either real or artificial, and 
gowns trimmed with garlands of small roses; "Autumn" 

44 



'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

should have brown dresses with fall leaves in red and 
brown tints, and " Winter " all white with holly wreaths 
and mistletoe, or red dresses trimmed in cotton. 

" Spring " should enter first and march to the front of 
the platform and sing the first verse of the following 
song, which is easy to sing to the tune of " Swinging 
'Neath the Old Apple Tree/' At the end of the Hues, 
two of the girls turn to the right and two to the left and 
march down the sides, joining at the back in a line. 
'' Summer,'' "Autumn," and '' Winter '' follow, a group 
at a time, sing their verse, and march as did "Spring" 
and take their places at the back behind the preceding 
"season." This retains " Spring" at the front, and then 
all join hands, forming a circle, and sing the chorus 
through and march off in single file, "Spring" leading. 
It is really very effective. 

Happy Childhood's hours, 
With the budding flowers, 
With the warbling songsters 

In leafy trees; 
When the earth rejoices, 
Glad we join our voices, 

Happy in the spring we are. 

CHORUS 

Happy Childhood ! Happy Childhood ! 
Singing all the day right merrily; 
Happy Childhood ! Happy Childhood ! 
Happy all the year are we. 

45 



L 

''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

In the summer weather, 
Glad we are together, 
Chasing little butterflies 

While on the wing; 
Ringing *round o' rosies. 
Gathering sweetest posies, 

Happy in the summer as in spring. 

CHORUS 

When the winds are sighing 
And the leaves are dying 
Opening prickling burrs 

'Neath chestnut trees — 
Merrily we 're racing 
In the air so bracing 

Happy in the autumn breeze. 

CHORUS 

When Jack Frost is nipping 
Still we're gayly sipping 
I All the sweetness stored throughout the year 

So, with cheecks aglowing 
Welcome we the snowing 
Winter brings us all good cheer. 

CHORUS 



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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XXXI 

The Game of "Pass It" 

AT each end of the drawing room have an empty 
clothes basket and another basket filled with arti- 
cles of all sorts, such as books, balls, pens, pencils, 
shoe horn, bell, old hats, clothes brush, nail brush, old 
doll — in fact, anything that can be collected around the 
house. Choose by lot or ballot two captains, who then 
choose sides and place their players in line so that they 
face each other. A full basket is placed on the right of 
each captain and an empty one at the left of the players 
at the end of each line. At a signal from the one in 
charge each captain selects an article from his basket and 
hands it to the next person, who immediately passes it as 
quickly as possible to the person at his side. In this man- 
ner the articles are picked up and rapidly passed on. If 
an article is dropped it has to go back to the captain and 
be started over again. The side which first lands every- 
thing in the basket at the other end wins. The prizes 
should be good things among the articles passed, such as 
boxes of bonbons, wee favors like pencils, key rings, 
etc. It may add to the interest of the game to offer 
a prize to the player who can remember the names of 
the articles passed and write them down on a slip of 
paper ten minutes after the game has been played and 
the objects removed from sight. The hostess, of course, 
must have a correct list and check off the articles. This 
makes quite a memory test. 

47 



Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 



T 



XXXII 

Music for Children 

HE following delightful programmes will be most 
helpful to those casting about for something 
musical of interest to little people : 

Children's Matinee Song Recital 



This programme of songs and ballads is designed especially for 
the little folks, for whom it is a unique as well as valuable and 
delightful form of entertainment. 

This programme can also be given in connection with a children's 
descriptive piano recital, in which each number is accompanied by 
a brief description, within the comprehension of children, of the 
music sung or played and incidents of interest connected with the 
lives of the different composers. 

" The Wedding Bell." Schumann. 

" There, Little Girl, Don't Cry." Campion. 

"Why Don't You Sleep, My Baby?" Rosabel. 

"The Sandman." Schumann. 

" Cherry Ripe." C. E. Horn. 

" This Little Pig Went to Market." Gustave Kerker. 

" Little Boy Blue." F. H. Brackett. 

" The Elf's Trip." Gounod. 

To Play for Children 

" Rondo Capricioso " — A musical story of fairy frolic. Men- 
delssohn. 

" The Little Orphan," " The Happy Farmer," A glimpse of sor- 
row and gladness. Schumann. 

" Wayside Sketches," " By the Brook — Sunset." Volkman. 

48 



'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

"Moments of Pleasure/* "Spring Song'' — German dance. 

GURLITT. 

" Hush-a-Bye Baby/' Cradle song. Barili. 

" Pleasant Recreation/' " The Little Rope Dancer " — Skating 

Song. KULLAK. 

" An Unpleasant Failing/' " The Tattler." Wolff. 

" The Result/' " The Complaint." Wolff. 

" A Delightful Time/' " The Children's Ball." Westerhout. 

**A Fortunate Little Boy/' "Happy Johnnie" — Festival 
March. Low. 

" The Bird's Song/' Nightingale Polka. Cerito. 

" The Mischief-Maker/' " The Little Gossip." Reinecke. 

"The Rebuke/' "Grandmother's Story." Reinecke. 

" I Know a Little Maiden/' " The Dance of the Elves/' Some 
Norwegian Stories. Grieg. 



XXXIII 
Novel Birthday Party 

AT a birthday party given for a ten-year-old girl the 
guests were asked to come, each wearing an object 
to represent a '' Mother Goose '' character. To 
illustrate : " Little Boy Blue " tooted a horn and carried 
a wee wooly sheep. " Miss Mufifet " was adorned by a 
huge spider which did not seem to frighten her in the 
least, although it was very close " beside her." The " Old 
Woman Who Lived in the Shoe" carried an armful of 
dolls, which caused her a great deal of trouble. 

When all had arrived cards were passed and small 
pencils, and the names of the boys and girls present were 

49 



''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

written on the cards, then each child was to write oppo- 
site, the name of the character he thought was repre- 
sented. '' Big Sister'' kindly looked over all the lists and 
determined who had the most correct and awarded the 
prize, which consisted of a lovely "Jack Horner" pie, 
from which sugar plums for every one were drawn, the 
winner keeping the pretty gilt basket from which the pie 
was made. The top was covered with crepe tissue paper 
and pink ribbons came through for each guest. Delicious 
tarts were a feature of the refreshments, supposed to be 
made by the '' Queen of Hearts." 



XXXIV 

Snow Men for Children's Party 

NOW don't say *' these are too much trouble to 
make." Of course it would be a little easier to just 
dish up the ice cream plain, but we must all take 
a bit more care with holiday parties, and the kiddies will 
just love these snow men. What you need is ball scoops 
in two sizes, some grated chocolate, some white stick 
candy, and some cloves. Take vanilla ice cream, scoop 
out a league ball first, place the smaller ball on top, roll 
in grated cocoanut if you want them fuzzy, and if you 
want some darkies use a chocolate cream for the head; 
stick in the candy arms, sprinkle on some chocolate for 
hair, put in cloves for eyes, and stand off to admire the 
result. Don't forget a clove for the nose and a couple 

50 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

for mouths. In place of cloves, citron bits or candied 
cherries cut up may be used, or all three, to make a 
variety. Cloves or tiny, hard red candies may be used for 
buttons down the front. In fact, there are many possi- 
bilities in making these ice cream figures very fascinating. 



XXXV 

A New /'Garden" Party 

THIS is carried out exactly like any " stage coach,^' 
only the girls are all given names of flowers and the 
boys of insects, bugs, etc., like Midge, Grub, Moth, 
Spider, Wasp, Mosquito, Fly, Hornet, Ant; while a 
starter for the girls would be Heliotrope, Violet, Mignon- 
ette, Pansy, Rose, Lily, Morning-glory, Forget-me-not. 
" The Butterfly " takes the place of the " driver " in 
** stage coach,*' and tells the story. When "sunshine" is 
mentioned, all the flowers and insects move around 
swiftly. When rain is mentioned, flowers throw up their 
heads, insects scurry away from the flowers. When a 
flower is mentioned by name, that flower is obliged to 
answer by mentioning another flower insect. When the 
gardener or a garden tool is spoken of, the flowers bow 
their heads or bend their bodies. The insects shrink 
away, and wander around the room ; when the butterfly 
is making only general remarks, the insects move around 
the flowers, making characteristic remarks about them- 
selves, or about the emblems of the flowers in the garden. 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

If a flower or insect fails to respond when mentioned, a 
forfeit is demanded. 

XXXVI 

"Up Jenkins" 

HAVE you ever played the exciting game of '*Up 
Jenkins"? If not, try it. I hope I can make the 
rules clear so you can all understand, and the 
faster it is played the more fun it is. The players are 
divided into sides with leaders or captains and sit in a 
line on opposite sides of a table. A toss up is made for 
the first start, and it is the place of the leader of the 
" in " team to say what shall be done by the " out " team, 
who have a coin (a quarter is best) which they must 
endeavor to keep concealed. 

The players on the ** out '' side pass the coin from one 
to another beneath the table, leaving it hidden with one of 
the members. 

When the leader calls "Up Jenkins" and raises his 
hands over his head, the opponents follow his example 
with their hands closed. He says " Down Jenkins " and 
brings his own hands down on the table. The "out" 
team follow his example, and now the leader must say 
under which hand the quarter is concealed. Crying 
" off," which means off the table, he touches each hand 
which he thinks is empty and leaves the hand which he 
suspects has the coin until the last. If he is mistaken 
and the coin is beneath one of the hands he has ordered 

52 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

*' off/' his side loses and the other team is " in " and his 
*' out." If the last hand should happen to have the quar- 
ter, the game is won and another turn is taken. The 
side that is *'out" must follow the opponents' captain, 
only if he says ** Up Jenkins '' while his hands remain on 
the table and the hands of his team go up, the opponents 
take no notice of the order, when if all hands are held 
up and he calls " Down Jenkins '* without his suiting the 
action to the command, the leader's example only is fol- 
lowed, not his words, and here is where many players get 
caught. For all mistakes made by the "out'' side a 
forfeit is paid to the " in " team. The hands are brought 
down on the table hard so that the ring of the coin will 
not be easily detected. 

XXXVII 

Indian Geographical Names 

THE red men as a race are rapidly disappearing, so 
that to children of the next generation they will 
be mostly known through traditions, songs, and 
stories, but how many of us realize that they have left 
enduring monuments behind them, inasmuch as nearly 
half the names of our states and territories bear names 
of Indian origin. I append a list that may be interesting 
to read aloud at the dinner table or a party. It's an 
interesting bit of information to have on hand: 

Alaska means the great land; Alabama, here we rest; 
Arkansas, bow on the smoky water; Connecticut, long 



**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

river; Dakota, friendly; Idaho, gem of the mountains; 
Illinois, the men ; Iowa, drowsy ones ; Kansas, smoky 
water; Kentucky, at the head of the river; Massachu- 
setts, the place of great trees; Missouri, great muddy 
(river); Michigan, a fish- weir; Minnesota, whitish 
water; Mississippi, great river; Nebraska, shallow 
water; Ohio, beautiful (river); Oklahoma, red people, 
or beautiful land; Oregon, great river of the West; 
Tennessee, river of the great bend; Texas, friendly ; 
Utah, dwellers in the mountains; Wisconsin, wild-rush- 
ing river ; Wyoming, broad plains. 

XXXVIII 
Christmas Tree Party 



s 



END out invitations like this: 



Come and see 

Our Christmas tree, 
Wednesday next, 

At half-past three — 

AT Frank and Susie's House 

Decorate the invitation with a row of trees across the 
top. Next, after you have delivered or mailed the cards, 
proceed to make a circle of four cards of white paper 
cambric to be pinned or tacked down to the floor around 
the tree. Next, draw or paint Roman letters or plain 
figures and place to represent the face of a clock. Have 

54 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

the favors or gifts wrapped in red paper, tied with gold 
or silver cord at each number. When the children enter 
tell them to join hands and circle around the tree singing 
to the tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry 
Bush": 

Here we go round the Christmas tree, 
Here we go round the Christmas tree, 
Here we go round the Christmas tree. 
With merry hearts and Christmas glee. 

At a given signal agreed upon they halt suddenly and 
each child picks up the parcel before which he or she 
stops. A guessing game like this follows, to last only 
a few moments or as long as the youngsters seem 
interested : 

Send one person out of the room while the others 
decide upon a figure on the clock's face ; when called to 
enter, the outsider has two guesses to see which was the 
lucky number. If rightly guessed the place is taken and 
the one having it goes out. If not guessed the unlucky 
one retires and sits down. Before going home sing this 
song; it may be set to most any tune the children like. 
I once heard it to " Yankee Doodle." 

Oh ! dainty Christmas tree ! 

You came from woodlands deep, 
Where winds were blowing chill. 

And flowers were asleep. 
Now on your branches wide, 

The strangest fruit you bear, 
With pretty toys for girls and boys, 

For children everywhere. 

55 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

Christmas tree 1 Christmas tree ! 

Shining bright and fair, 
The dearest tree in all the world 

To children everywhere. 

Serve gingerbread figures trimmed with colored icing, 
and hot chocolate, or ice cream, if you Hke, and the chil- 
dren are not already too full with Christmas stuffing. 



XXXIX 

Old-Fashioned Games 

MOST mothers will recall the tunes to these old 
game songs ; they will delight little children, who 
generally enjoy playing the same things that 
mother used to. 

For " Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush '' form 
a circle, with a leader in the center, and sing the 
following : 

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush, 
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, 
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush, 
So early in the morning. 

All stop and rub faces with hands and sing: 

This is the way I wash my face, 
I wash my face, I wash my face, 
This is the way I wash my face. 
So early in the morning. 

Joining hands again, all sing the first verse; then, 
**This is the way I brush my hair," **This is the way 

56 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

I wash my clothes/' '* This is the way I iron my clothes/' 
each illustrated with appropriate movements. The last 
two verses are : " This is the way I go to school '' (slow 
steps), "This is the way I come from school" (quick 
steps). Children love action plays and this is a general 
favorite. 

" I sent a letter to my love " is another beloved game. 
A handkerchief is folded like an envelope, the leader 
gives it to a child, who walks around the inside ring, 
singing: 

I sent a letter to my love; 

I lost, I found it. 

Illustrating by first holding the envelope behind and 
then in front of her. 

I sent a letter to my love ; 
Oh, what is this around it? 

Looking wonderingly around the circle, the player 
sings : 

Who will take my letter, my letter, my letter, 
Who will take my letter to my love from me? 

Choosing a boy, she approaches him, singing: 

You will take my letter to my love from me. 

Dropping the handkerchief at his feet, she runs across 
the other side of the ring, the boy runs and breaks 
through the ring after her. If he can touch her with the 
letter before she gets into his place, she must send the 
letter back again ; if not, the boy sends it, etc. 

57 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



XL 

Shut-in Day Amusements 

AS soon as a child, girl or boy, is able to handle 
round-pointed scissors, provide a pair, with quan- 
tities of colored pictures to cut out. Then, if 
there is no handy man available, get the nearest carpenter 
to make a screen or the frame for one ; tack cheap paper 
cambric on the back. Cover the youngster from top to 
toe with an apron, spread a sheet on the floor, give him 
a bottle, or, better still, a tube of library paste (they 
dearly love to squeeze it), and you happily may go your 
way rejoicing, knowing that several hours will elapse ere 
the charm of cutting and the joy of pasting will have 
been lost. 

When the screen is full take it out and replace with a 
fresh piece of cambric. This amusement gives the child 
ample scope to exercise his originality, and the enjoy- 
ment of not being assisted is keenly appreciated by the 
little soul. If a box of water color paints is added to the 
outfit, so much the better. And, by the way, those colors 
are made harmless for these embryo artists, so if the 
brush should find its way into the little mouth no serious 
consequences will follow. 



58 



^*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XLI 

A Bluebird Party 

CUT the cards on which to write the questions from 
blue water color board or from heavy blue paper, 
and they should be bird shaped. The answers are 
all birds, and children will love this game. As a reward 
a "bluebird'' pin might be a suggestion: i. A child's 
plaything. (Kite.) 2. What you do at every meal. 
(Swallow.) 3. Nothing, twice yourself, and fifty. 
(Owl.) 4. Less than the whole and the top of a house. 
(Partridge.) 5. Equality and decay. (Parrot.) 6. A 
celebrated English architect. (Wren.) 7. A tailor's 
implement. (Goose.) 8. Part of an ancient fireplace. 
(Crane.) 9. A girl's nickname and a baked dish. (Mag- 
pie.) 10. A turbulent country. (Turkey.) 11. To 
spoil and half a score. (Marten.) 12. A bit of wood 
and a disturbance. (Sparrow.) 



XLII 
A Caramel Hunt 

AT a party for children aged from seven to twelve, 
they had this jolly "hunt," the happy little guests 
taking home the booty in dainty tissue paper bags 
made by " mother." She took the smallest size bag and 
covered it neatly with pale pink crepe paper, then lettered 

59 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

the initials of the young hostess in gilt. All kinds of 
caramels (wrapped in waxed paper) were hidden in the 
rooms and ten minutes were allowed to find them. The 
ones having the most and least were av/arded quaint 
paper caps. No candy was eaten and the bags were put 
away until going-home time. 

At this party an innovation was the serving of refresh- 
ments soon after the guests arrived, and thus the dinner 
hour was not so greatly disturbed. The hours were from 
"three to six." 

XLIII 
Fun with Soap Bubbles 

HERE is a pretty way to amuse one child or any 
number of children: For a real party, cover sew- 
ing or card tables with old blankets, shawls, or 
pads of cheesecloth and wadding — anything to make 
the table top soft. Then get little bowls of blue, yellow, 
or so-called " Dutch " ware, a quantity of baby ribbon and 
a plentiful supply of clay pipes to allow for breakage, 
the penny-a-yard quality of ribbon is good enough. 
Wind the pipe stems with the ribbon, tying a jaunty bow 
at the bowl. Of course it will get wet, but it looks pretty 
when the pipes are passed. 

Next fill the bowls with a mixture made from boiling 
shaved castile soap with water; to every pint of this 
liquid add one teaspoon of glycerine. This recipe pro- 
duces gorgeous bubbles. Offer prizes for the largest 

60 



^*Dame Curtsey's^' Book of Games 

bubble, for the one lasting the longest and for the one 
with the most vivid colors. By the way, grown people 
have been known to indulge in "soap bubble" parties 
with great satisfaction. The bubbles may be blown or 
fanned about the room. 

XLIV 

Chinese Game for Children 

ACTION games are enjoyed by children and they 
gladly welcome any new idea, especially when it 
is an out-door stunt, so I am very glad to describe 
this pastime so loved by little Chinese girls and boys. It 
has been dubbed the "chicken'' game, and most appro- 
priately, I think. The requisites are as many rows of 
sticks of wood as there are players ; kindling wood is just 
the right thing. Each row must have ten sticks placed 
within easy hopping distance apart. 

Each player or " chicken '' takes his or her position at 
the head of a line and at the signal "Ready" begins to 
hop over each stick with only one foot. It is not so easy 
as it sounds. When the row has been successfully 
" hopped," the last stick is removed and the return trip is 
begun and at that end the last stick is kicked out of the 
line. Then the start back is made and the return made 
until there is but one stick of wood left in the line. The 
player who first reduces the line to one, wins the game. 
School children can play this at recess. At a home party, 
a prize could be offered to add interest to the game. 

6i 



<( 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



XLV 
Advertising Pictures 

ADVERTISING pictures is a new rendering of the 
old and beloved "bird, beast, fish." A child 
stands in the center of a circle with a sofa pillow, 
which is thrown at a child, who must reply with an adver- 
tising picture before the one in the center can count ten. 
The fun of this game is that advertisements cannot be 
named twice. This makes the players keep their wits and 
adds interest to the game. It is best fitted for youngsters 
from twelve to fifteen. Even grown-up people enjoy this 
pastime. In fact, grown-ups should be a factor where it 
is possible in all children's plays, especially at parties. 

XLVI 
Drummer Boy 

THIS is a game that boys love and I think girls 
would like it, too. The players form in a circle an 
arm's length apart. The leader is in the middle 
with a basket ball. He says : *' Rah, rah, rah, run, boys, 
run; you with the red coat follow the drum." As the 
word " drum " is said the leader throws the ball at a boy 
in the circle, who, if he catches it, takes his place 
as leader. At the word '' drum " all those in the circle 
take very short steps to the left and clap their hands in 
time like the beating of a drum. Of course, good lively 
music adds to the charm of this game. 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XLVII 
A Scotch Game 

THE game is called " King-a-be-low/' or, as it has 
become in this country, " Kinggalo," and is played 
by the children in the lowlands of Scotland. The 
players form at one side of the lawn, and a player is 
chosen to be king. His duty is to stand in the middle and 
when he calls '* King-a-be-low, who shall come through? " 
the other players try to run by to the opposite side while 
he endeavors to touch them on the head, or, as it is called, 



' crown." 



XLVIII 
Letter Game 

THIS is a very old game, but I have no doubt that it 
will be new to many, and I am sure those of us who 
knew it in our youth will be glad to renew the 
acquaintance. Any number of players may participate. 
The one who proposes the game explains that the letter 
chosen must begin the answer to the question; for 
instance, suppose the letter "A" is agreed upon and 
the leader says '' Mention the name of an American 
city beginning with *A,'" (Atlanta). A foreign city, 
(Amiens) ; an American river, (Alabama) ; a mineral, 
(amethyst) ; a vegetable, (artichoke) ; an animal, (ape) ; 
an article to be worn, (arctics), etc., are some of the 
innumerable questions which may be suggested. 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XLIX 
A Fairy Gift Bag 

A FAIRY gift bag is somewhat newer than the 
Jack Horner pie. It is a pretty way of dispensing 
souvenirs to the children and adds an element of 
mystery that youngsters love. They may be just as 
expensive or cheap as the hostess wishes. First select 
the requisite number of toys or favors, wrap neatly in 
tissue paper of two colors, one for boys and one for girls ; 
tie very securely with colored cord or ribbon. Pale green 
and pink or red and white make good combinations of 
colors. Get a large brown paper sack from the grocer, 
one that will hold all the parcels without crowding. Now 
cover this bag with a dainty crepe paper and make two 
bows of ribbon ; fasten on either side of the bag quite low 
down. Attach a ribbon to each parcel (very narrow) 
three-quarters of a yard long. These ribbons fall over 
the top of the bag when it is tied up and look very pretty. 
Next blindfold each child, one at a time, and let him 
walk to the bag and select a ribbon, standing perfectly 
still, then when all have ribbons they are pulled good and 
hard, the bag bursts and each one has a favor. Some- 
times the children are given a stout cane and each allowed 
a strike at the bag until it bursts. A hostess may choose 
her own method. For very small children a little tale 
may be told of how a good fairy has filled the bag for the 
party, and interest will rise to fever heat by the time the 
bag is opened. 

64 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



Passing Pennies 

THIS is a jolly pastime much enjoyed by children 
and hailed by mothers as something new. Place 
five chairs in a row and five chairs opposite them 
with a small table or taboret at each end. Ask ten chil- 
dren to take the seats thus provided, with a captain at 
each head of the line. Then the captain takes five pennies 
that are given him and lays them on the head table. 
Every other child must hold out his hands for the penny 
to be dropped into them, the palms flat and close together. 
Now the captains sitting beside the head tables start 
sending the pennies to the other end. They pick one cent 
off the table, drop it in the next child's hand, then the 
third person picks it out and drops it in the next hand 
and so on until the last player is reached and the coin is 
laid on the foot table. As soon as the fifth cent reaches 
the foot table it is sent back by the same process. The 
side getting the five coins " home " first wins. The faster 
this game is played the more exciting it is and the 
children always want to do it over and over. 



e$ 



Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



LI 

A Cranberry Hunt 

A Thanksgiving Day Game 

HIDE cranberries, either outdoors or inside, just 
as the powers that be decide. Provide bags or 
baskets for the spoils, and award a box of goodies 
for the prize. 

Instead of the time-honored "pinning the tail'' on the 
donkey, they have gotten out a pumpkin pie, and the trick 
is to put a slice of pie back in place. And another good 
stunt is to draw or paint a turkey gobbler and give each 
child a feather to be pinned on. The reward may be 
a turkey candy box. 

LII 
A Field Day Party 

THE guests may be any number, but twenty-four 
I find is just about right for the competition. This 
affair is fine for children, young people, and those 
who are older grown. 

Egg and spoon races are great fun, as well as the 
" needle and thread " contest. Then there should be run- 
ning races, forty-yard dashes, interspersed with three- 
legged and sack races. 

Rope climbing is most laughable, as well as the merry 
''obstacle" race. 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

A timekeeper, referee, and a "judge'' add to the 
interest and the prizes may be as many and elaborate as 
the hostess wishes. In some of the races blue and red 
ribbons may be awarded. 

Perhaps tennis, croquet, archery, and baseball matches 
may be arranged. 

Refreshments or supper should be served on the lawn 
or porch. 

It would be a jolly thing to have the guests conveyed 
to and from the place in a hay wagon drawn by four 
horses. Provide horns and have bells on the harness. 

It is needless to say that outing suits should be worn. 
From four to ten are good hours, but the time should be 
set to suit the convenience of the largest number. 

LIU 
An Easter Party for Children 

NO party is a real Easter affair without the time- 
honored egg hunt, and the eggs may be genuine 
ones colored,^ or the pretty candy ones that come 
in all sizes. Provide little baskets or bags for the finds, 
and zest is added by having prizes for certain eggs, say 
one of gold, one silver, and one royal purple. The 
rewards may be pretty boxes filled with bonbons or a big, 
fat "Benjamin Bunny" candy box. Large sized egg- 
shaped boxes come ready to be filled with bonbons or 
any little favors the hostess may wish to bestow. 
A jolly game is to set up Easter chickens or rabbits 

67 



''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

like tenpins and roll Easter eggs instead of balls. Play it 
just like tenpins ; keep score and have a prize. 

Children always adore the blindfolding game, when 
something is pinned on, and in this case draw a rabbit on 
the sheet or paper and have an egg-shaped bit of paper 
to be pinned on in his front paws. Have each paper 
numbered and caution the children to remember what 
number they had. Have a large Easter cake decorated 
with white and yellow frosting with a circle of wee 
chicks around the edge, so when the cake is cut there will 
be one on each slice. 

If a Jack Horner pie is to be part of the attraction, 
have it of yellow and white crepe paper, nest-shaped, 
with a rabbit on top holding the yellow and white ribbons 
in his paws. Let each child pull a ribbon and draw out 
a favor. 

The ice cream may be served in nests of candy such as 
confectioners have at this season. 



LIV 
A Spring Paper Chase 

THIS is a jolly outdoor sport for a bright, warm 
day and may be arranged for after school or a 
Saturday, just as '* mother" deems best. Children 
from the ages of eight or nine up to thirteen or fourteen 
may be invited. Outing clothes and stout shoes must be 
the costumes, and it is a wise thing to ask each child to 

68 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

bring an extra pair of stockings and a pair of slippers to 
put on when they return from the chase, for there is no 
telling what may happen and shoes will be sure to be 
more or less muddy. 

The " meet '' should be on the lawn at the hour 
appointed, and only one "hare" will be necessary for a 
small party, say twelve ; if there are twenty guests there 
should be two. If just one is sufficient it should be a boy ; 
if two, choose a boy and a girl. It will probably be best 
for the mother or whoever acts as hostess to assign the 
parts of the " hares/' who should be well acquainted with 
the country for several miles around ; then there must be 
one of the older boys for "whipper-in"; he belongs to 
the hounds; and one of the smaller lads may be the 
huntsman and have a good, loud horn. 

The hares have sacks (a stout clothes-pin bag or a 
pillow case will do), with a cord to go over the shoulder. 
Fill the sack with well-torn newspaper or white paper 
with which to make the trail. 

All being in readiness, the hostess produces her watch 
and at a word the hare is off, and he has a ten or fifteen 
minute start. No one knows what he will do or where he 
will go, but he must leave the paper trail. 

At a given signal the " hounds " are off, and the only 
rule is that every one must be back at a certain hour, the 
hare included, whether he has been caught or not. 

Boys and girls love this kind of a party, and it is truly 
very exciting when the hare is seen and the hunter blows 
the horn; if a "killing" is made the "hounds" are jubi- 

69 



*'Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

lant and all troop back to the house ready to do full 
justice to the "hunt" tea, or luncheon. Red is an 
appropriate color scheme and simple refreshments should 
be served, but be sure to have plenty of everything. . 



H 



LV 
A Merry April Fool Party 

ERE is a bit of jingle for an invitation to a 
First-of- April party: 



For merry jests, 
Do be my guest 
On Wednesday, 
"All Fools' Day;" 
'The hour is eight, 
So don't be late, 
And do not say me " nay/' 

Please reply to Miss Annabel Scott. 

If you should wish to entertain at a card party have 
the *7^ster's head rattles/' to be found in the toy depart- 
ment, for the scores and keep track of the games by let- 
ting the winners attach little gilt costume bells to the rattle 
by gilt safety pins. By tying the rattles with ribbons, two 
of each color, partners may be found ; the blues playing 
together; the reds, etc. When refreshments are served 
you may have a surprise menu by serving well-known 
viands in the most unexpected forms, such as : 

70 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

Potato salad arranged as cream puffs ; English walnut 
shells as receptacles for olives; sandwiches as slices of 
cake with nut filling ; ice cream as croquettes, cone-shaped 
and plentifully sprinkled with toasted cake-crumbs ; cake 
as sandwiches, with ice cream between and tied with 
ribbon ; coffee served in bouillon cups ; bonbons served in 
artificial fruit candy boxes. 

A dish filled with this joke fruit makes a lovely center- 
piece. Pass it after the dessert, and I want to tell you 
that real banana skins may be filled with salad or ice 
cream, and neatly baked Irish potato shells, scooped out 
and lined with waxed paper, may be filled with salad or 
ice cream, or even creamed chicken, the halves being 
carefully put together. Of course, we all remember the 
April Fool bonbons of our childhood — chocolates stuffed 
with cotton, button molds coated with chocolate, marsh- 
mallows dipped in quinine, maple kisses made from salt 
and molasses, and little pill boxes filled with flour and 
iced like small cakes. 

All this and more, too, is permissible on the first day 
of April. The French call this day '' La Poisson d'Avril " 
(The Fish of April), so why not have fish-shaped place 
cards and see who will be the first to be "caught**? 



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Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 



LVI 

Fire Buckets 

•«w— ^IRE buckets'' is a jolly game, so called from the 
-1"*^ old way of passing buckets of water from hand 
* to hand in the volunteer fire companies. The 
players are formed in two long lines opposite each other 
with captains at the head, each having a basket or box 
filled with all sorts of hastily collected articles — handker- 
chiefs, balls, hats, hair ribbons, pocket knives, etc., which 
are to be passed on one at a time until the end of the line 
is reached. The last player, depositing the objects on the 
ground beside him, begins at once to pass them back. The 
line first accomplishing the task wins. 



LVII 
Stagarino 

THIS may be played on the lawn, porch, or sea- 
shore. Have two bases opposite each other. The 
players are on either side with " It '' in the middle 
(the latter being chosen by drawing lots, or the old-time 
method of "counting out''). The game is to run from 
one goal to the other without being caught. When once 
touched he or she joins in trying to catch the others. 



'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

LVIII 
An After-Dinner Trick 

THIS sounds very easy, but try it and see. Boys 
will enjoy it, and I am told even men are not 
averse to attempting what is apparently so simple. 
Tell the victim that he is to brush a coin out of your 
hand. Proceed to lay a quarter in the middle of the palm 
and hand *' him '^ a whisk broom. The motion used must 
be only a brushing one, no fair digging the coin out with 
a corner of the broom. Sometimes as many as a dozen 
people will try to brush the quarter out and not one will 
succeed. 

LIX 
Deft Finger Test 

I HARDLY know what to call this amusing stunt that 
a hostess sprang on her guests after a dinner party. 
It will serve for any age and is very easy to get ready. 
All required is a new paper of black and white pins ; tear 
off a row of white and a row of black for each person, 
and provide a little tray to hold the pins. At the ring 
of a bell or the word ''go," all take the pins out of both 
rows, put them in the holder and go to work to replace 
them "as was.'' The one who finishes first wins the 
prize, which may be a fancy box of assorted pins, beauty 
pins, safety pins, or whatever the hostess wishes 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

LX 

Character and Object 

TRY this little game and see how amusing it is. 
Send two persons out of the room, then select a 
character and an object which are closely related 
to each other — for instance, ''George Washington and 
his hatchet," " Sir Walter Raleigh and his cloak," '' Cleo- 
patra and the asp." Then call in the persons and tell one 
to be the ** character " and the other the " object." Ques- 
tions must be asked by them which must be answered by 
either "yes" or "no." After much adroit questioning 
they usually ascertain " who " and " what " they are. 
Persons and objects may be of local fame, and provoke 
much good-natured merriment. 

LXI 

A Bird Party 

BIRDS drawn in sepia ornamented the invitations and 
the favors were Japanese paper birds that chirped 
in a most natural manner. 
On the wall a peacock was drawn vv^ithout the tail, 
which was to be supplied after the manner of the old- 
time "donkey" party. Each child was blindfolded and 
had three chances to supply the missing glory to this 
vainest of birds. The prize to the one pinning on the 
most tails in the place where they should go was a copy 
of the " Birds' Christmas Carol." 

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**Dame Curtsey's*' Book of Games 

The next contest was headed, " Birds You Ought to 
Know." The questions were as follows: 

A jolly outdoor time? — A meadow lark. 

What hunters sometimes do? — Killdeer. 

A quaint, old-fashioned name ? — Phoebe. 

Used in decoration? — Bunting. 

From whom do you buy meat ? — Butcher bird. 

A color Quakers like ? — Dove. 

An unsteady light ? — Flicker. 

Material for summer trousers ? — Duck. 

A stupid fellow ? — Booby. 

A boy's name? — Bob White. 

What friends do ? — Chat. 

A bird never seen in summer? — Snowbird. 

An amusement for children? — Teeter. 

What farmers need in summer ? — Thrasher. 

What a dog does when happy ? — Wagtail. 

A colored tool ? — Yellowhammer. 

A celebrated artist ? — Whistler. 



LXII 
"Buzz" 

THE players sit in a circle and the one designated 
begins to count, his neighbor says the next number 
and so on until 7 is reached, when, instead of giving 
the next number, the player says ** buzz." The next says 
" 8," and so it goes until 14 brings another *' buzz," and 
so on. For every number having a 7 or a multiple of 7 

7S 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

the word '' buzz " is substituted. The player who forgets 
is left out of it, or must pay a forfeit. 

The thing to remember is 7 or the multiple, like 14, 
21, 28, 35, etc. The one who holds out the longest may 
receive a prize. 

LXIII 

"Lady Jane" 

DO you know her? If not, introduce her to the chil- 
dren the next time they ask you " what to play." 
It is done by forming a circle, then giving each 
child the name of an article of a woman's belongings, a 
parasol, a fan, a hat, slippers, and so on. Another player 
spins a plate in the middle of the floor and says, ** Lady 
Jane is ^oing a-visiting and needs her hat,'' or some other 
article, and the person to whom the hat was given must 
seize the plate before it ceases to spin, using as he twirls 
it the name of another one of Lady Jane's possessions. 

LXIV 
The Minister's Cat 

WHY the minister's cat I know not, only I do know 
that this game is just as much fun as the children 
make it; all depends upon how fast they can 
think and how long they can make one letter last. 

One begins by saying, '*The minister's cat is ambi- 
tious." The next one states, "The minister's cat is 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

anxious/' and so on until all the a's are exhausted and the 
next letter is taken up. 

It is very much like the old game beginning, *' I love 
my love with an A/' and some one says *' Apple," and 
then " B '' is taken and so on down the alphabet or until 
the players are tired. 

LXV 
Novel Birthday Party Decorations 

IN search of something new to amuse a bevy of a dozen 
youngsters invited to celebrate her daughter's tenth 
birthday, a mother had a glass bowl of goldifish for 
the centerpiece, surrounded by tiny nosegays of flowers, 
from which ribbons ran to each place. At the close of 
the repast the ribbons were pulled and each child found a 
fish candy box attached to the flowers, to be taken home. 

Sets of toy fish that float after a pole may be pur- 
chased, and they were provided for amusement, much to 
the delight of those embryo Izaak Waltons. Large bowls 
furnished the water, and the children fished in pairs. 
The prizes were candy box lobsters. 

This menu was served : Bouillon in cups, chicken sand- 
wiches, ice cream, and lovely little frosted sponge cakes. 

Besides, each one had a slice from the birthday cake, 
which was on a side table by itself surrounded by candles. 
The guests each blew out a candle, wishing the birthday 
girl many happy returns of the day. Then there were gay 
snapping motto caps, without which no party is complete. 



*rDame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

LXVI 
The Daisy Chain 

THIS is a good exercise for little girls from six to 
eight years old for their closing day at school. 
Have them dressed in white, with garlands of 
daisies and wreaths of daisies on their heads. Let them 
sing this verse to the tune of " The Old Oaken Bucket : " 

How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, 

When fond recollections present them to view; 
The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wildwood, 

And all the broad fields, where the wild daisies grew. 
How eager we gathered the fair, blooming flowers, 

And plucked off their petals our fortunes to tell ; 
Or quickly in garlands we wove them for bowers 

Or wreathed them for crownlets youth's beauty to swell. 

CHORUS 

The daisy, the daisy, the bright blooming daisy, 
The white-petaled daisy, we all love so well. 



LXVII 
A Football Party 

BOYS, and incidentally the girls, are greatly inter- 
ested in football these days; in fact a little chap 
only ten who had to go to the hospital for an opera- 
tion was so keen about a forthcoming game that his one 
desire was to " get back '' in time to witness it. 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book o£ Games 

I must confess I am not a " fan," so have no personal 
knowledge of how to use the terms correctly. I do know 
that the favor departments of the stores show cunning 
little footballs to be used as containers for nuts or 
candies, and there are pennants galore, so all well-known 
colleges and many high schools are represented. A large 
football may form the centerpiece, from which ribbons 
(team or school colors) may run to smaller footballs at 
each place. The names of guests may be printed on the 
sides and so be used for place cards. 

To choose partners for any desired game, have a basket 
or plate with cards (one for each person), half of them 
being of the color of one team and half the color of the 
opponents. Thus the guests will be divided into teams 
according to the colors drawn. On the cards write the 
positions of the players; for instance, the one drawing 
** right end " will hunt for the one having " left end " and 
the one who gets "right tackle" will hunt for "left 
tackle " ; the right guard and the left guard, and the right 
halfback and the left halfback, the quarterback and the 
fullback, the center and the referee, the umpire and the 
field judge, may be partners. The hostess and her partner 
may be the captains. 

Another pastime may be finding how many words 
may be made from " football," the one having the most 
at the end of a stated period to receive a prize. A good 
way to end the evening will be to have a rousing " sing" 
of college songs and an impromptu dance. 



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Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



LXVIII 
A Knickerbocker Party 

A MOTHER who was about to put her small son 
into his first trousers conceived the clever idea of 
holding a party in his honor on the eventful day. 
On her card she wrote : '* Come to meet our little man 
Jack at three on Saturday, September lo." 

The first game is for the amusement of the children 
and is called ''menagerie." A picture of an animal is 
pinned on the coat or dress of each as they pass in line. 
The leader should be a ten-year-old boy, who will be able 
to manage better than a younger child. He says he 
wishes to catch a menagerie to go with a circus, and then 
the children scatter over house and grounds, each mak- 
ing the noise of the animal he is supposed to represent. 
All the animals must be caught, and if they are especially 
wary the hunter may employ those already caught to help 
get the others. When all are caged (placed in a corner 
designated) he forms them in line, two by two, and they 
march around to the owner of the circus, who removes 
the animals. 

This is a lively game, keenly enjoyed by all children. 
For favors have little clowns and serve pink lemonade, 
ice cream in shape of animals, and animal cookies; of 
course, have the snapping motto caps which all children 
love. 



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"Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

LXIX 
Bobbing for Apples 

IN a light zinc tub which may be brought from the 
laundry put at least a dozen red apples, and in four of 
them conceal a ring a thimble, a button, and a coin. 
Just press the articles carefully into the fruit and the 
mutilation is not discernible in the water. The boy or 
girl getting the ring will be married or engaged within 
the year. The thimble means no such luck; the one 
getting it must remain single or unattached for another 
twelve months. The coin means wealth and the button 
means one must win fame or fortune by one's own 
exertions. 



LXX 

The Flour Stunt 

WHO remembers the old trick of trying to get a 
coin out of a pan of flour with the teeth, the 
hands being tied behind the back? This is a 
laughable sight. Sometimes a wedding ring is concealed 
in the flour, and the one getting it will be married within 
the year. Of course, the coin denotes wealth. 



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Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



LXXI 
A Ship Party 

THIS affair was given for a boy's eighth birthday 
and he just loved boats better than anything else, 
so his mother had. the tinsmith make an oval pan 
four inches deep, v^hich she filled with water and put in 
the center of the dining-room table. Around the edge 
she arranged ferns and vines with moss, and in the water 
she placed the gold fish from the aquarium. At the toy 
store she bought ducks, miniature rowboats, sailboats, 
a little steamer, swans, frogs, and play fish. There was a 
five-cent sailboat at each place with the name of child 
on the side. The cake had a sailboat done in pink icing 
for decoration, with the boy's name, date of birth and 
present date underneath. All this had been kept a pro- 
found secret and all the children were wild with delight. 
This mother is noted for her successful children's parties 
and she says it's because she has just the same things for 
each child to take home, and she usually serves refresh- 
ments first, as ice cream and cake are after all what 
make a real party to the average child, and, served early, 
the supper hour is not interfered with. Then, too, she 
says children are much happier and easier to manage 
when their stomachs are full. 



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'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

LXXII 

Fairy Party 

THE world of " Make Believe " is a most fascinat- 
ing one to both old and young, so you who are 
contemplating giving a party for children try this. 
First, I would advise you to consult some of Andrew 
Lang's fairy story books, as well as Hans Christian 
Andersen and our well-beloved old Grimm; then your 
guests will not be so long forgotten when they announce 
themselves as " Snow White," *' Sinbad,'' " Titania," etc. 
Let me tell you that " Fairy Tale " parties with costumes 
and characters for grown-ups are not to be tabooed, as 
one of the famous eastern hostesses, a society leader, has 
just given such an afifair. But I always think first of the 
children when planning a party, so ask them all to come 
representing some favorite fairy tale hero or heroine. 

These delightful creatures are invariably wood folk 
and water folk, and the boys will surely come, many of 
them as Brownies, and they will not forget the Kewpies 
either. If the hostess represents "Titania," the fairy 
queen, she may have several pages and ladies in waiting. 
Crepe paper, silver and gilt paper, with yards of parti- 
colored tarlatan, will evolve gorgeous costumes. Have a 
fairy " gift " tree on the lawn from which the guests will 
clip favors to be taken home. This tree may be festively 
trimmed with paper chains, lanterns, and dainty wands 
for each child. 

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*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

Then there can be a hunt for the pot of gold at the 
end of the rainbow, which may be arranged "spider 
web" fashion with gold and silver cords (Christmas 
parcel cords) wound in and out of the shrubs and trees 
until the end comes under a rainbow canopy made of the 
seven colors (crepe papers), where favors are found, 
vv^hich should be little steins wrapped in gilt paper, filled 
with tiny bonbons. 

Queen Titania may then assemble her court and com- 
mand a certain subject to suggest a pastime to be played ; 
this may continue for an hour, then serve refreshments. 
These may be elaborate or simple. Ice cream may be 
frozen in individual molds if expense is not to be con- 
sidered ; mushrooms with tiny figures are most attractive. 



LXXIII 
Blowing the Cone 

MAKE a large cone of stiff paper and slip it on a 
string stretched between two trees, about three 
feet from the ground. 
Give each child a try to see if by blowing into the large 
end of the cone he can send it across the string. The 
art is to see who can send it over with the fewest 
"blows.'' 

Another very good amusement is to tie a knot in a 
clothesline and stretch it conveniently high between two 
trees or posts, blindfold each child in turn and give him 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

three clothespins. Then see who can come the nearest 
the knot. Each pin is marked with the player's number ; 
for instance, three will be marked " i/' three "2/' etc. 
This gives each one three trials. If the party is a large 
one it will be best to let each child have just one pin and 
instead of numbering the clothespins have colored rib- 
bons tied to them, each child to remember his or her color. 



LXXIV 
Matching Partners 

A FUNNY way to match partners is to write halves 
of Mother Goose jingles on cards and pass one 
half to the boys and the other to the girls, and 
when the jingles are completed, the partners are found. 
Another way is to hide pairs of animal crackers and tell 
them to hunt for their mates. 

Matching flowers is always a pretty way to find mates. 



LXXV 
A Birthday Custom 

A PRETTY birthday custom is observed by a 
family rejoicing in the possession of six beautiful 
children. On the first natal day of each child a 
tree is planted, and each succeeding year the same custom 
prevails. When the tenth birthday is reached a real 

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''Dame Curtsey's'* Book of Games 

festival is held. The "birthday'' child is permitted to 
choose the variety of tree to be planted, and, if possible, 
it is obtained, and the tree planting is made the fea- 
ture of the occasion with a procession around the lawn. 
Oftentimes there is a ''tree guessing'' contest of some 
kind, or the refreshments will all be from " tree " prod- 
ucts. It is needless to say that these children are devoted 
to their own special trees, and watch their growth 
with scrupulous care. It is certainly a custom worthy 
of emulation, and not expensive, so it is within the 
reach of almost everyone. 



LXXVI 
An April Party 

My name is April; and I 

Often laugh, as often cry; 

And I cannot tell what makes me; 

Only as the fit overtakes me! 

I must dimple, smile and frown, 

Laughing though the tears roll down. 

But *t is nature, sir, not art; 

And I 'm happy at my heart. 

WE are all happy '* at our hearts " when planning 
good times for children, and none more so than 
the little mother who had this party for the chil- 
dren of the neighborhood, her own boy and girl being the 
host and hostess. The usual invitations were sent out, 
save that in one corner were the words "Soap-Bubble 

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''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

Party." The decorations were umbrellas suspended from 
the ceiling. Under each was a small table holding two 
pipes ornamented with bows of rainbow colors, a bowl 
and a bottle containing soap-bubble water. This mixture 
was soapsuds with the addition of a tablespoon of 
glycerine in every pint of water, which gives luster and 
stability to the fairy bubbles. Prizes were offered for 
the largest bubble, for the one remaining longest in the 
air, for the one with the most vivid coloring, and for the 
one soaring the highest. 

A pretty game was arranged by stretching a broad 
ribbon across the room like a tennis net, providing fans 
to blow the bubbles. The contest was to see which side 
could blow the greatest number of bubbles and get them 
over the ribbon. Two persons played at a time, or four, 
as in tennis. 

The table was gay with a circle of candles in the seven 
prismatic colors around a large crescent-shaped cake. 
The flowers were hyacinths in delicate pink, lavender, 
white, yellow, and purple. One stalk in a tiny pot at the 
plates made a beautiful table. 

LXXVII 

''Beir' Blind Man's Buff 

ERE is a new version of blind man's bufT: 
Divide the players into sides ; all on one side arc 
blindfolded and those on the other side arc given 
little bcll$. No running is permitted, and only a certain 

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''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

space allowed to play in. When caught, the bell is sur- 
rendered and the captive is blindfolded. A most laugh- 
able stunt is to seat two persons opposite each other on 
the ground. Blindfold them and see who can feed the 
other a small saucer of rolled cracker crumbs first. This 
is a popular game with the birds, for they are assured a 
most luxurious meal after the merry picnickers are gone. 



LXXVIII 
A New Blind Man's Buff 

TRY this innovation on the old way of playing blind 
man's buff. Count to see who will be the blind 
man, then tell him to imagine himself in a barn- 
yard. Let each one in the ring choose silently what 
animal he shall be. Hand the blind man a wand or cane 
and when he touches a person such is to take hold of 
the stick and imitate some barnyard creature, disguising 
the voice as much as possible. If guessed correctly, the 
child takes the place of the blind man. Sometimes two 
trials at guessing are allowed, this to be decided before 
the game is commenced. 



''Dame Curtsey's^' Book of Games 

LXXIX 
Bag and Wand 

THE game of *' bag and wand '' is always welcome. 
Suspend a good sized paper sack from the center 
of the room. Fill the sack with paper-wrapped 
candies, snapping mottoes, English walnuts wrapped in 
gold and silver paper, and any other small articles that 
will be unharmed by falling. Blindfold each child in 
turn, hand the striker a stout cane with which he makes 
three strikes in an attempt to break the bag. When the 
bag is broken all the rest of the children scramble for the 
goodies as they fall. 



LXXX 

"Number^' Blind Man's Buff 

HERE is a new way for you to play " blind man." 
Form a circle and "count out'* to see who shall 
be "it." Number each player, and the "blind 
man" remains in the middle trying to catch the two 
whose number he calls, when they must take each other's 
places. When he has called on three or four couples to 
change and has caught no one he says "one hundred," 
when everyone must change, and the chances are there 
will be a victim. 

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'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

LXXXI 
Playing Menagerie 

CHILDREN love this game. This is the way it is 
done : Each person is given the name of an ani- 
mal; a circle is formed with someone in the 
middle, who is "it;" he calls the name of the animal a 
person represents three times, and if the one called does 
not respond by saying the name once, he or she must take, 
the middle and catch the next victim. It sounds simple, 
but just try it. Here is a list of animals: Horse, cat, 
bear, donkey, bison, muskrat, leopard, camel, elephant, 
alligator, snake, pig, mouse, opossum, rhinoceros, hippo- 
potamus, sheep, tiger, monkey, frog, toad, squirrel. 

LXXXII 
Chestnut Brownies 

FROM a friend over the ocean comes this suggestion, 
which is fine for Hallowe'en : Procure shiny horse 
chestnuts, select a small one for the head and a 
larger one for the body. Then provide for the guests 
some good wire hairpins, some yarn or heavy silk with 
which to wind the pins, and some sealing wax from which 
to fashion hands and feet. Hats should be made from 
acorn cups, pins will fasten them on ; also secure the head 
to the body. Make the faces with water colors. These 

go 



*'Dame Curtsey's^^ Book of Games 

little Brownie folk are great fun, so our English friend 
who made them says. They could form part of a contest 
with a prize for the best one. 



u 



LXXXIII 

A Hallowe'en Party Invitation 

SE a Hallowe'en post card or a pumpkin-shaped 
card and write the following jingle for an invita- 
tion to a party on October 31 : 

At our house on Monday night 
You will surely see a sight. 
Ghosts, and goblins, witches, too, 
Are busy preparing fates for you. 
The hour is eight, don't be late, 
But come — be brave at any rate. 



LXXXIV 
Patriotic Entertainment 

HERE is the description of a successful entertain- 
ment given by a boys' military company, to which 
the G. A. R. of the town were bidden as honored 
guests. The affair was given on Washington's birthday. 
First the fife and drum corps played " Yankee Doodle/' 
and then there was a pretty drill by the boys, followed by 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

a tableau which showed a group of soldiers round a 
camp fire made by a brazier of burning charcoal, a large 
mat of asbestos being underneath it. They sang ''When 
Johnny Comes Marching Home," " Marching Through 
Georgia," and ''Tenting Tonight." The background had 
dark green paper cambric hangings and there were sev- 
eral evergreen trees to one side. After this some one 
read, "The Blue and the Gray," and the next tableau 
showed "Barbara Frietchie." She stood upon a con- 
cealed ladder and looked through a window frame, and 
while a portion of the poem was read she waved a flag. 
Then "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are March- 
ing," and "America" were sung, in which all joined. 
All were now seated and these tableaux were shown. 

1. The Bivouac. A darkened stage and a small fire 
burning low; soldiers wrapped in blankets lie sleeping 
under the trees and in groups ; a sentry softly pacing up 
and down. 

2. Writing Home. A soldier sits in the foreground on 
a log writing on his knee, using a pencil ; in the back- 
ground soldiers are moving about, passing in and out, 
talking in pantomime ; a horse or two may be led across 
the stage; a general air of confusion and hurry, but 
everything done without words. The stage is lit for this 
picture. 

3. The Picket. A darkened stage, with trees ; a soli- 
tary soldier pacing slowly back and forth and listening; 
he stops, seems to hear a noise, and brings his gun to his 
shoulder. 

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''Dame Curtsey's'* Book of Games 

4. The Hospital A very large tent, the flaps fastened 
back; rows of cots on either side with men in the beds; 
bandaged heads, arms, etc.; table with medicines; army 
nurse in costume passing back and forth. Trees arranged 
at the ends of the platform. 

5. The Leisure Hour, Trees scattered irregularly; 
leaves on the ground. In the background and at the sides 
of the tableau men sitting in pairs or alone ; one mending 
his coat, one polishing his gun, one rubbing up a horse's 
bridle, one writing, a couple playing cards, in front two 
men playing checkers on a large drum. 

6. The Soldier's Return. A cottage (made of gray 
cambric tacked on frames, window and door open, vines, 
flowers and trees all about). In the door stands a gray- 
haired woman in simple gingham dress with apron, look- 
ing as though down a road ; presently a soldier appears, 
lame, ragged, very tired, and as he approaches the door 
his mother, who has gone in, comes out and catches him 
in her arms as he falls on the threshold. 

After these had been applauded the manager 
announced a series of living pictures representing 
famous soldiers in the world's history. I give the list, 
which may be changed to suit those in charge : Richard 
Coeur de Lion in Crusader's dress, Cromwell, Frederick 
the Great, Napoleon, Washington, Grant or Lee, and 
Roosevelt. A bugler could blow a blast as each picture 
is ready to be shown to attract the attention of the audi- 
ence. I am sure school teachers could easily plan and 
carry out this entertainment. 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

LXXXV 

Sunday Pastimes for Children 

IN the first place, after the usual duties are attended to 
and church service over, there should be an hour in 
the afternoon — more, if the time can be given — that 
belongs to the children alone. It may mean giving up a 
nap, a walk, a call, but do it faithfully. Then use a part 
of this time for holding a little "court of appeals''; 
encourage each child to tell all the troubles and grievances 
of the week, condole when necessary, and smooth out 
knotty problems in the fairest manner possible. After 
things have been satisfactorily adjusted, have a chapter 
in some interesting book known as the " Sunday Book," 
and never used any other day. 

To induce Bible reading, let each child spell his name 
with verses from this holy book, making acrostics and 
memorizing those especial verses. Illuminating favorite 
texts with a box of water colors is another Sunday 
pleasure. 

A never-failing source of amusement for young chil- 
dren is a good-sized Noah's ark. Tell the story of the 
flood and give a little history of the animals, their homes, 
and habits. Then at the end pair the animals and put 
them away in the ark. 

It is the exceptional child who does not enjoy music, 
and the earlier the singing habit is cultivated the better. 
Teach the good old hymns which will never be forgotten. 
The melodies learned on Sunday afternoon will echo 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

through the busiest day and soothe the darkest hour in 
the years to come. 

So few parents stop to think that it is in the earUest 
years that the memories are being made which will be 
most vivid the latter days of their children's lives. 

One mother of sound sense . and farsightedness in 
bringing up her children makes it a rule to permit each 
child a turn in planning the Sunday night luncheon, giv- 
ing the order on Saturday so ample preparations may be 
made. 

Much depends upon how Sunday is observed whether 
a child looks forward with pleasure or dread to the first 
day. It should be such a dear, happy time that the little 
ones welcome its advent with delight. 

LXXXVI 
A Baby's Birthday Party 

IF possible, rent or borrow enough high chairs to seat 
the small guests around the table. Have a birthday 
cake iced in white, with a pink candle and "one to 
grow on." Of necessity, the beverage for these little ones 
must be of milk, but there can be a variety of crackers. 
For souvenirs and amusement nothing will be more pleas- 
ing than toy balloons or bouncing balls fastened to the 
chandelier over the table by baby ribbons. The balls 
may be made of worsted and will delight the babies. 
Have a generous supply of rattles, jumping jacks, and 
rubber dolls for playthings, and with plenty of assistance 

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**Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

the party should be a great success. Rosebuds, either 
pink or white, are the most appropriate flowers to use. 
For the mothers and grown-ups, serve cocoa, whipped 
cream, chicken sandwiches and charlotte russe, nuts and 
bonbons. The babies will provide all the entertainment 
necessary. 

LXXXVII 

Hallowe'en Fun 

HOW many have ever tried an "owl hunt"? To 
each guest give a wooden gun such as may be pur- 
chased at a toy shop for a few cents, and tell him 
to hunt owls. First, of course, these funny little gray 
paper owls decorated with water colors must be hidden 
throughout the rooms. Ordinary gray owls count five, 
white owls count ten, and horned owls count fifteen. 
Each bird has a looped bit of red string tied through a 
punched hole, so it may be hung on the gun. This makes 
great sport, the one bagging the most owls and the one 
who has the fewest being awarded a prize. 

I have not tried this next trick, but I am told that for- 
tunes may be written on white paper with milk. When 
held over the heat from a lamp or gas jet the letters 
turn brown so the writing is perfectly plain. The fortune 
slips can be distributed by a little fairy, then each guest 
takes one at a time into a room where a wizard is hidden 
who, with a magic lamp, interprets the writing. All such 
things add to the mystery of a party. 

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''Dame Curtsey's^' Book of Games 

Provide each guest with a neat bundle of fagots and 
tell him he must tell a mystery story while they burn. 
This is only practical where there is a large open fireplace 
around which the guests may gather. Have plenty of 
cushions and no light save perhaps a candle or "Jack" 
here and there. If some of the guests have been asked 
to prepare for this part of the program, so much the 
better, but many people do their best on the spur of the 
moment. 

Making tissue paper pumpkin caps is a favorite stunt. 
The hostess provides stiff cardboard for the rims and 
plenty of orange crepe paper with some green paper and 
tubes of library paste, some coarse needles and thread. 
This is especially good for young girls of twelve to 
fifteen, as they are just at the age when they love to make 
things. The caps are worn the rest of the evening. 



LXXXVIII 
Games for the Sand Pile or Beach 

THE sand games were arranged by Patten Beard. 
They are adaptable not only to the beach, but some 
of them to the sand pile which many children have 
in their back yards. 

CLAMSHELL SCUD 

A good race that can be played upon the beach is clam- 
shell scud. To play this, gather at least thirty large clam- 

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*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

shells that you will find strewn around upon the sand. 
Find a smooth strip of beach about fifteen feet long and 
arrange these clam shells in a double row of fifteen each, 
each row with its shells about a foot apart. 

At a given signal two players start to pick up the shells, 
each in his own row. The one to gather all his first wins 
the game. 

BURIED TREASURE 

To play this, find a large handful of shells. Mark out 
upon the beach a circle three feet round. Count out for 
''leader" and give him the shells. The other players 
must then go and hide in the sand dunes till they have 
counted 300, and the one who is '' leader '' must hurriedly 
dig a deep hole somewhere within the circle and bury 
three shells. He must then seek to cover up the traces 
entirely, and as soon as the other players return they 
start to work to hunt for the *' treasure'' of the three 
shells. The one who finds them first becomes leader. 
The game may be continued till one player has obtained 
six shells. 

CIRCLE SAND 

Make a hole in the sand deep enough to sink a tin 
sand pail. Place your tin pail in it and draw about the 
hole a circle that is about two feet in diameter, with the 
pail in its center. 

Gather a handful of pebbles and sort out the light and 
dark ones. Each player may take the kind he prefers — 
one chooses dark ones and another light ones. Each 

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**Dame Curtsey's'^ Book of Games 

player must have ten pebbles and must sit four feet from 
the circle's edge. 

All play is made in turn, and the object of the game 
is to see who can make the highest score trying to throw 
the pebbles into the pail. 

Each pebble that goes into the pail scores the count of 
two and entitles a player to one turn more. 



LXXXIX 

A Baby Parade 

AT a New Jersey resort famous for its beach and 
board walk, a very pretty custom has been carried 
out with great success at the close of each season. 
The " baby parade " is a feature unique and as yet exclu- 
sive with the resort, but I see no reason why the idea is 
not adaptable to other places, and even as a drawing card 
for an indoor bazaar where there is ample room. 

All the children under seven participate. They are in 
costume or not, just as their mothers wish; those unable 
to walk are in flower-decorated perambulators and go- 
carts. Pony carts are sometimes pressed into service 
drawn by little boys harnessed with garlands of flowers 
and blue ribbons. The children are entered in classes 
according to age, and there are various committees and 
judges. Prizes are given, bands play, and it is altogether 
a gala day. The line of march is on the board walk only. 

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''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

XC 

An Unique Musicale 

A DECIDED novelty in the way of musicales was 
given recently by a charming musician and her 
husband. They have done and are doing a won- 
derful work for children. The invitations were issued to 
the youthful guests with the request to bring " the dolly 
you love the best to the doll musicale." 

The hostess was assisted by a much-beloved corn-husk 
dolly who belongs to this musical household. 

On the day appointed there were over 30 dolls of 
various ages and stations in life assembled in demure 
silence to listen to the following clever program : 

" Dolly Lost and Dolly Found." Martin. 

" The Japanese Doll." Swift. 

" Sleep, Dolly, Sleep," and " Dance, Dolly, Dance." Reinecke. 

" Dolly Goes to Sleep." Goodrich. 

" I Love the Old Doll Best," Song. Gaynor. 

"In Dolly's Kitchen." Hollander. 

" DolFs Dance." Tschaikowski. 

" Dance of the Marionettes." Mrs. Crosby Adams. 

" Overture to the Marionettes." Gurlitt. 

" My Dear Jerushy," Song. Gaynor. 

"Now Go to Sleep, My Dolly," Song. Mrs. Crosby Adams. 

" Teaching Dolly to Waltz." Bartlett. 

" Funeral March of a Marionette." Gounod. 

" Poupee Valsante." Poldini. 

"Dancing Doll." Seeboeck.. 

" DolPs Reverie." Mrs. Crosby Adams. 

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''Dame Curtsey^s'' Book of Games 

The children were perfectly delighted and took in the 
ideas expressed to the great satisfaction of the hostess. 
It was a revelation to find that all the world loves a doll, 
as is evidenced by the fact that "music-makers of every 
clime" have "told the doll's own story in song and 
rhyme/' 

This suggestion may be carried out easily, as the 
selections are within reach of the average musician. 



XCI 
Guessing Noses 

DID you ever let the children try to guess whose 
nose belonged to whom? It is very amusing and 
this is the way to proceed : Hang a cloth in front 
of a doorway and place one-half of the company in each 
room, only one of which is lighted. Cut a V-shaped 
hole in the cloth and let those in the dark room place 
their noses through it, one by one, while those in the 
light room guess whose nose it is. When a right guess 
is made, the owner of the nose must join the guessers, but 
should the guess be wrong the one making it must join 
players. The game ends when all are in one room, unless 
there are too many children and they will tire before all 
have been successful. It is a better plan to stop one 
thing and go to the next amusement before anyone 
wearies. 

lOI 



**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XCII 
Portraying Nature with Bible Verses 

HERE is something that will interest the children in 
looking up Bible references ; it could be used on 
" Children's day/' which is observed in so many 
churches early in June. 

1. Lily (Luke 12:27). Bouquet of lilies, anemones, 
or some lilaceous flower. 

2. Grass (Luke 12:28). Bouquet of long grassblades 
tastefully arranged. 

3. Star (Matthew 2:9-10). Large star. 

4. Vine (John 15 : i, 5). Long, graceful cutting of a 
grapevine. 

5. Cedar (Psalms 92: 12). Branch of cedar. 

6. Wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). Stalks of wheat. 

7. Flower (Isaiah 40:8). Bouquet of any flower in 
season. 

8. Palm (John 12: 12, 13). Palm branches. 

9. Mustard (Matthew 13:31,32). A mustard plant 
from some wheat field ; the larger the plant, the better. 

10. Willow (Psalms 137:1,2). Long willow branches. 

11. Barley (Ruth 1:22). Stalks of barley. 

12. Fir (Psalms 104: 16, 17). Branches of fir. 

13. Rose (Isaiah 35 : i). Bouquet of roses. 

14. Rushes (Isaiah 35 : 7). Handful of tall rushes. 

15. Oak (2 Kings 13: 14, revised version). Some oak 
branches. 

16. In concert: Psalms 96: 11, 12, 13. 

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**Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

XCIII 
Pastime for February Twenty-Second 

FOR a children's Washington party decorate the room 
prettily with flags and pictures of Washington and 
Mount Vernon. Have a paper hatchet in which 
there is a pin for each child. Blindfold each child, one 
at a time, and have him pin the hatchet on the nose of 
Washington. A large cheap print may be obtained for 
this purpose. This will make lots of fun. Award a 
cherry log cabin box filled with candied cherries. 



T 



XCIV 
For a Birthday Child 

HESE charming verses by Alice Corbin were 
written on a card, the initial letter of each being 
done in gold shaded with pink: 

FOR A BIRTHDAY CHILD 

What shall we give to the birthday child? 
A blessing, a kiss, or a golden ring? 
A kiss lasts only a second or two, 
The ring is lost ere the year is through, 
But the blessing of God is a precious thing, 
So the blessing of God is the gift we bring 
To the child that is gentle and sweet and mild, 
To the dear little, good little birthday child ! 

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'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

XCV 

"Catches" for Idle Moments 

ON a rainy Sunday afternoon at a hotel when the 
children/and grown-ups too, were wondering what 
to do next, the clever lady came in with a pencil 
and twenty slips of paper and set them to working on 
these stunts, and so the hour passed and the storm was 
over and every one happy again. 

First she told us to punctuate this sentence so as to 
make sense : '* He that is is he that is not is not." After 
some moments and no one getting it she came around to 
each one, and here is the way the sentence read : " He 
that is, is ; he that is not, is not." Next she wrote these 
seemingly meaningless letters on our slips and asked us 
to make a readable translation : "iiuriiublcurii 
for me." Here it is : " Too wise you are, too wise you 
be; Isee you are too wise for me." 

The following mystical message was translated this 
way: 

stand take to taking 
I you throw my 

*' I understand you undertake to overthrow my under- 
taking," 



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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

■ ' "" ' ' ■ ' ^ ' ■ 

XCVI 
For a Child's Christmas 

MAKE a large bag of white tarlatan, sew it up with 
red wool. Now make a trip to some toy depart- 
ment, or *^ five and ten cent store " and purchase 
about a dozen or two of little trinkets that children love ; 
a colored pencil, a miniature flatiron, a baby doll, a dolFs 
jewelry set, a ball, a knife, anything small that would 
please a child. Wrap each article in different colored 
paper and tie with ribbon. Then fill the tarlatan bag. 

This interesting looking grab bag delights a child more 
than I can tell, and a wise mother will limit the number 
of grabs a day, thus prolonging the pleasure and giving 
the child something to which to look forward. 



XCVII 
A Snowball Christmas 

ROLL each gift in a ball of white cotton, dip lightly 
in mucilage or gum arabic water, then sprinkle 
plentifully with diamond dust. Pile these balls in 
a pyramid in the center of the table or in the middle of 
a room with a wreath of holly around them. 

The child dressed as ^' Santa Claus '' may distribute 
the balls and carry the larger packages in a pack on his 
back. 

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Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



XCVIII 
"Bird Sellers" 

GET the players in a row, leaving two outside. 
These two represent the bird buyers. Give each 
child the name of a bird, one being a crow, one a 
crane, another a canary, etc. One bird dealer says to the 
other : 

" I wish to buy a bird." 
*'What kind?'' inquires the other. 
"A bird that can fly swiftly,'' says the first buyer. 
" Very well, take what you wish." 
" Then," says the first buyer, " I '11 take a robin." 
As soon as he says this the " robin " child must jump 
out of the row and run around, trying to escape. If the 
dealer catches the bird the captured one stays until the 
other " birds " have been selected and caught. 



XCIX 
At the Sign of the Holly 

A MOTHER issued these invitations, written on 
holly-decorated paper; the envelopes were tied 
around with silvery cord, through which a spray 
of holly was thrust. The seals were decorated with 
holly: 

At the sign of the holly, my friends, I '11 await. 
I think 'twill be jolly, so don't you be late. 

io6 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

As each guest arrived a spray of holly and a long pin 
were handed out by an attendant in the dressing room. 
I forgot to say this was a party for children from seven 
to ten years of age. The first thing all were ushered into 
a room which was called the " Christmas Garden." Here 
on a long table was a small artificial tree for each child 
and a holly paper-wrapped box which, when opened, was 
found to contain very small tree ornaments, colored 
papers, paste (tubes), and a pair of scissors. 

Fifteen minutes were allowed in which to decorate 
these miniature trees. At the expiration of the time a 
prize was awarded for the best trimmed tree. Then all 
made a trip to the " postoffice,'' where a big, fat Santa 
Glaus distributed Ghristmas postals to each one, on which 
instructions were given where to look for a parcel. Then 
such merriment ! The packages had been cleverly hidden, 
each marked with the child's name. 

The refreshment table had a tree in the center with red 
ribbons running to each plate, where there was a little 
gilded basket in which to take home the goodies. A 
white iced angel food cake had " Merry Ghristmas " in 
red candies. The ice cream was in the shape of snow 
balls, on top of which a wee Santa stood. 



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''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

C 

Santa Claus Puzzle Game 

CHILDREN like puzzles, so try this as part of your 
Christmas fun. Give each child an envelope con- 
taining a picture of Santa Claus dissected ; also a 
sheet of cardboard and a tube of paste, or have a bottle 
of mucilage accessible. The one who first completes the 
picture is the prize winner. 



CI 

Christmas Fun 

MAKE a Santa Claus figure about three feet high 
with a tall, peaked cap on his head (a mask and 
a beard make the head) ; provide five soft rubber 
balls and see who can knock the hat off with the fewest 
balls. When the hat is off, a ball for each one in the 
party will roll QUt, and on these balls numbers will be 
pasted. Next each child is told to hunt for a parcel 
bearing his or her number, which is hidden within a 
prescribed space to be explained by the hostess, whether 
upstairs or down, and in which the package will be dis- 
covered. This is a merry way to present the favors 
or gifts, which may be Christmas boxes filled with 
sweetmeats. 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CII 

May-Day Fun 

GIRLS and boys who have read *' Jack and Jill/' by 
Louise Alcott, will remember what a fine time 
they had going on a hunt for wild flowers for their 
May-Day baskets and how the flowers were so scarce 
that some of them had to resort to paper blossoms. The 
first day of May has always been a festive occasion in 
England, with its dance around the Maypole, plays on 
the green, and all sorts of revels in which young and 
old alike took part. All children enjoy filling and hanging 
baskets or even nosegays on the doorknob, ringing the 
bell, and then slipping noiselessly away out of sight. 
This occasion is another opportunity for sending flowers 
to the sick and shut-ins, and perhaps a more substantial 
gift may be concealed among the posies. I hope some of 
you are going to have parties and will send the invitations 
in little baskets filled with spring flowers ; the notes may 
be tied to the handles. If possible, have a Maypole on 
the lawn with streamers of rainbow-hued cheese cloth or 
tarlatan fastened to the top, one for each child. When 
all have arrived, let a boy and a girl alternately take hold 
of an end, all facing the pole, and skip around, in and 
out, thus weaving the streamers as they go, and the pole 
will soon be covered with a network ; when down to the 
end of the streamers, reverse and unwind. 

For the table centerpiece, a small Maypole is very 
effective. Three feet of an old broomstick gilded and 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

fastened into a piece of wood concealed by moss and 
flowers will answer admirably. A small, round embroid- 
ery hoop on top makes the crown from which the rib- 
bons radiate to around the edge of the table, where they 
may be tied to very tiny baskets filled with white enamel 
paint. It makes a pretty effect to sprinkle the table with 
small flowers and ferns. Serve chicken sandwiches, 
cocoa or lemonade, orange ice or cup custards, and sun- 
shine cake. Individual sunshine or angel food cakes iced 
are delicious. I really think small, fancy cakes are nicer 
than layer ones for parties and so much easier to serve, 
also to eat. 

If the weather should be unfavorable, a cobweb party 
could be arranged indoors, using gaily colored twine, as 
ribbons are rather expensive unless the half cotton is 
procurable in fifty-yard spools. Children like to untangle 
these webs and the only rule to be strictly observed is 
that no string shall be broken. It adds zest to have little 
favors here and there on the strings. Start all from a 
common center, marking the end with the name of the 
child who is to untangle it, and have them end any and 
everywhere. The one finishing first receives a prize, and 
the one last should have some kind of a '' consolation." 



no 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

cm 

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving 

AT a real old-fashioned Thanksgiving party they 
played games, and grown-ups and children and 
every one had a lovely time. I jotted down some 
of the games in my memory book, which I give here. 
We played **Airship" just like ''Stage Coach," and it 
was astonishing to see how glibly the children named the 
various parts, like propellers, engine, wings, wheels, 
steering gear, etc. When the ship fell into the ''Atlantic 
Ocean " everybody changed places and there was a grand 
scramble. Wireless messages were sent, and I just won- 
dered how the shades of our forefathers felt if they 
were within hearing distance. They must have been 
impressed with the changes wrought in comparatively so 
few years. 

Next they placed a sheet upon the floor and blindfolded 
the sedate professor and the maiden aunt, gave each a 
saucer of rolled cracker crumbs and a dessert spoon. 
The one who first fed the other the contents of the saucer 
won a prize, a box of fancy crackers. It was the most 
laughable sight. Then there was a whistling contest. 
The company was lined up, each one given a small soda 
cracker to eat, then the first one who succeeded in 
whistling " Yankee Doodle " clear through in the shortest 
space of time won a prize. Just try to pucker and whistle 
after eating a dry cracker, if you think it 's easy. Next 
there was a "One- Yard Penny Push," in which only 

ITI- 



'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

those under twenty participated. This consisted in push- 
ing with one's nose a bright copper cent across the floor 
the space of one yard. Such fun, and the reward was 
the penny! 

The '*Tug of War'' came next on the program, and 
consisted of tying a good bit of molasses candy in the 
middle of a three-yard piece of clean white crochet cotton. 
The pair chosen to contest took hold of each end with 
their teeth, hands were tied behind them, and they had to 
see who could chew up the string the quickest and get 
the candy. 

Then came the ** High Jump " for men and the " High 
Jump" for women. There were three aspirants for 
honors in each class, and three hard cookies with holes in 
the middle, known as jumbles, were suspended from an 
archway about five inches above the heads of the con- 
testants. Doughnuts or crullers could be used. The 
successful biters got the cakes to eat. 

A *' Needle-Threading " contest for both boys and girls 
made loads of fun. The first in each class who succeeded 
in threading six needles, all the same size, in the shortest 
space of time received a reward of a stuffed turkey candy 
box. By this time every one was in a hoHday humor, 
and it was not difficult to make entries for the *' Broad 
Grin" contest. The one whose smile measured the 
largest received a prize, and the *'Foot Race" brought 
out a hearty laugh when the one in charge came around 
with a real foot-measure such as is used in shoe shops, 
and the girl with him recorded the length of every stock- 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

inged foot. The last contest was called a "Drinking 
Race/' and the contestants were given tumblers of water 
that were to be consumed by the spoonful. 



CIV 

May-Day Parties 

THERE has been a delightful revival of many old- 
time dances which were given on the green-sward, 
among them the " Morris " dance, which is still 
danced in Warwickshire. May Day meant in England all 
sorts of pleasant plays and dances which were indulged 
in by both old and young. This *^ Morris '' dance had a 
gay jingling of bells and a clashing of staves and swords. 
It was supposed to have been named from the Moors and 
several certain characters always participated — a fool, a 
piper. Maid Marian, and a hobby horse. There is an old 
saying that the hobby horse was really the '' king'' of the 
May. 

A dance around the May pole is one of the prettiest 
sights imaginable. Instead of ribbon use streamers of 
tarlatan. Each child should have a crown of real or 
artificial flowers, the little queen to have a gilt circlet 
besides. A flower hunt is a good stunt, hiding the blos- 
soms in all sorts of places, providing little baskets to 
contain the spoils. In a sand pile each may take his turn 
in laying out a garden, dividing off the beds with shells 
and pretty stones, the best design to receive a prize of a 

"3 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

package of flower seeds. At this May-Day party, plan 
for all sorts of races, with a timekeeper and judge, all 
the prizes to be flowers in pots or single blossoms. The 
ice cream should be served in little pottery flower pots, 
small size, lined with waxed paper. Plant a flower in 
each pot, one of the straight, stiff-stemmed variety, like 
tulips or jonquils. Sprinkle chocolate over the top to 
look like earth. The children will be delighted with this 
method of serving. 



CV 
Russian Hole-Ball 

AS many holes as there are players are made in the 
ground in a straight line, one beyond the other, 
about three feet apart. Each player has a number 
corresponding to a hole. About ten feet from the first 
hole is drawn a line facing it. On this the first player 
stands, in line with the holes, and tries to throw a ball 
into one of them. If the ball falls into the fifth hole, 
he scores five, and the player who is No. 5 takes his 
place on the line and pitches the ball. A score of twenty- 
five or fifty is made, and the one who obtains that amount 
first wins. 



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Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

CVI 
A "Grandmother's" Tea Party 



T 



HE invitations, which portrayed a dear old lady 
in a pen-and-ink sketch, read as follows: 

If you Ve quite fond of your cup of tea, 

Do come and have one or two with me. 

Please dress yourself as your grandmother dressed. 

In her every day clothes, or in her best. 

Grandma Brown at home will be 

On January third, precisely at three. 

And the quaint grandmothers who responded ! 

And quainter still were the dear little mannerisms of 
each delightful old lady. The costuming would have 
afforded amusement enough, but the mother of the thir- 
teen-year-old hostess had provided little slips of paper 
on which were written questions about each grandma 
present ; the tea she used or did n't use. The first ques- 
tion was: Of what tea is Grandma Graham fond? 
Answer : Honesty. 

Another question was : 

Of what tea did Grandma Holmes drink too freely in 
her youth? Answer: Naughty. 

Other questions were: 

What brand of tea do Grandma Hall's guests drink 
often ? Answer : Hospitality. 

What tea does Grandma Gray dislike ? Answer : Par- 
tiality. 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

What tea does Grandma Biddle drink too often? 
Answer : Frivolity. 

And so on through as many brands of tea as there were 
grandmas present. The answers were given as charades, 
which added to the fun. The refreshments were old- 
fashioned, and tea was indulged in by those charming 
little grandmothers in a manner which proved the art 
was by no means a lost one. 



CVII 
A Buttercup Party 

SOMEHOW children and buttercups always seem to 
go together, so in a locality (and there are many) 
where buttercups grow try this pretty party. Use 
this merry little jingle for the invitation, which may be 
written in gold ink on a white card : 

My dear little friend, 

A welcome most hearty 
To you I extend 

To my buttercup party. 

' If skillful with water colors, do a row of tiny figures 
across the card with buttercup caps and buttercup wands 
in the hand. Decorate with the showy blossoms com- 
bined with feathery grasses. 

The first diversion may be a " buttercup " contest, man- 
aged like the time-honored donkey party, only instead of 

u6 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

the stubborn little beast minus his tail have a large yellow 
buttercup pinned on the sheet, made from cambric or 
drawn with yellow crayons, minus the stem. Blindfold 
each child in turn and see who comes the nearest in 
pinning on the pasteboard or cloth stem. Award a prize. 

In the next stunt, provided the children can spell, pass 
cards with the word " buttercup '' at the top, and see how 
many words may be made in ten minutes, no letter to be 
used more times than it appears in the word. The best 
fun is the last, when little baskets of yellow, tied with a 
yellow ribbon on the handle, are given to each with 
orders to find all the " buttercups " (candy) possible. Of 
course these have all previously been hidden, and if very 
hot weather each buttercup should be wrapped in waxed 
paper. 

These candies come In all colors, so additional interest 
may be added by having so many of a color counting so 
much in way of points for the prize ; besides, each child 
is to keep all that are found to eat. 

On the table have a mound of buttercups combined 
with ferns; at each plate, if obtainable, get the small 
doll-size jardinieres, put a wee cluster of buttercups in 
each one for favors to take home. Serve chicken and 
lettuce sandwiches, lemonade, orange cake, and cream. 

If a small maiden is to be the hostess at such a party 
she could wear a frock with a yellow sash and hair bow. 



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**Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

CVIII 
Sweet Pea Tea Party for Children 

THE invitations were written on diminutive note 
paper and said : '' Prepare yourself for a ' Sweet 
Pea Tea/ We '11 look for you exact at three/' Day, 
date, and street. Place name of little host or hostess 
in lower left-hand corner. Paint a spray of sweet peas 
across the top of page. After all had arrived the follow- 
ing flower contest was played (the guests were all over 
ten years old) : 

1. The flower which reminds us of the meadows and gold. 

2. What did the soldier say when he bade his sweetheart good- 
bye? 3. The name of what flower is used every day in a slang 
expression? 4. The name of what flower did Johnny's mother use 
when she told him to rise? 5. What hotel in New York City bears 
the name of a flower? 6. What flower is most popular in April? 
7. The name of what flower means comfort? 8. What is the 
saddest flower? 

The answers are: i. Buttercup. 2. For-get-me-not. 3. Daisy. 
4. Johnny-jump-up. 5. Aster. 6. Easter lily. 7. Heartsease. 8. 
Bleeding-heart. 

To find partners for refreshments, baskets of sweet 
pea blossoms were passed, two of each kind, and the 
children matched colors. The table centerpiece was of 
sweet peas in a clear crystal vase with loose blossoms 
scattered over the cloth. The effect was lovely. A small 
bouquet of the same blossoms was laid on each napkin 
for the children to take home. 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book o£ Games 

CIX 
The Glad Thanksgiving Time 

The elm trees are yellow, 
The apples are mellow; 
The corn is ripe on the ear, 

The time of the clover 

And wild bee is over, 
For this is the fall of the year. 

The crickets are calling, 

The red leaves are falling, 
The meadows are now brown and sere. 

The birds are not nesting, 

The earth begins resting. 
For this is the fall of the year. 

IN preparing for Thanksgiving one naturally thinks 
first of the dinner, but after that happy repast is over 
and conversation lags there must be something to do, 
so I am going to tell you about a pumpkin party that 
would be nice for the evening if you want to ask in some 
children to help celebrate. You may call it a " pumpkin 
party,'' for somehow we always associate this gorgeous 
yellow vegetable with Thanksgiving time. So we '11 have 

" Pumpkins large and pumpkins small, 
Pumpkins short and pumpkins tall, 
Pumpkins yellow and pumpkins green. 
Pumpkins dull and those with sheen." 

Use one cut in halves, lengthwise, for the centerpiece 
(just half). Fill it with apples, bananas, red apples, and 

119 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

white grapes, purple ones, too, if you can get them. 
Around the top stick Christmas tree candle holders and 
fill with small white candles. When lit the effect is 
lovely, and as pretty a centerpiece as you can imagine. 
Yellow crepe paper may be fashioned into adorable 
pumpkins for holding salted nuts, and the lights may be 
shaded with paper pumpkin blossoms. Have a huge 
paper pumpkin for a "^Jack Horner'' pie, with yellow 
ribbons, one for each child. For favors you may use 
pop corn put up like ears of corn in green oiled paper 
with green paper corn leaves. For this informal occasion 
I would suggest using the pretty "Thanksgiving'' paper 
napkins, and if you do not mind extra trouble each child 
may have a yellow crepe paper pumpkin cap to wear. 
Serve very simple " eats," consisting of cold turkey sand- 
wiches, cocoa, popcorn, molasses candy, and wee pumpkin 
tarts with a spoonful of ice cream on top. 



CX 

A Kite Party 

CASTING about for something to amuse the guests 
of her son's eighth birthday party, a clever mother 
evolved this exceedingly pretty party. The obli- 
ging man of the house saw to it that there was an abun- 
dance of sticks on hand suitable for frames, also strings 
and plenty of gay papers. The invitations were kite- 
shaped, with cunning little thread tails, with baby ribbon 

120 



'^Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

for weights. Across the kite's face there was this 
"jingle:'' 

Come fly a kite 

With me at three, 

On Wednesday next, 

Much fun you '11 see. 

Bobby Jones. 

Of course, this was an outdoor party, or mostly so, 
for the children wore play clothes and sweaters, in case 
they were chilly. They worked on the big inclosed porch, 
and what fun they had ; those not very skillful had some 
assistance and '* mother" saw to it that when the hour 
allotted to kite building was up, each child had a flyer 
ready to sail up into the bright blue sky. 

Out on the lawn there was a " Jap," " bird," or " fish " 
kite for each guest, flying on short lengths of string from 
the trees and bushes. These were the favors and dis- 
tributed at supper time. If there were any kites returned 
from their journey into the air with safety, they were 
taken home, too. 

All the children said they liked this party. Competi- 
tion ran high, and a prize of a box of candy was awarded 
to the owner of the kite that went up farthest into the 
blue sky. 



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*'Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

CXI 

Following the Flag Contest 

CHILDREN like this and it's quite the proper 
thing to do on Washington's birthday. Get Httle 
paper flags by the dozen or hundred, according to 
how many kiddies are to be entertained. The flags have 
pins attached; hide them throughout the rooms and let 
the children hunt for them; as they find them stick in 
the front of dress or coat. When a horn is blown at the 
expiration of the time limit the ones that have five flags 
pinned on will receive a flag in a standard (price ten 
cents), and those who have more will get flag-decorated 
boxes containing candied cherries, which they are to 
share with those less fortunate. Candy boxes come in 
the shape of logs with wee hatchets which may be used 
as favors, and manufacturers of crepe papers have most 
charming designs just for patriotic occasions. 



CXII 
A Wonder Box 

DID you ever make one? Well, if not, after you 
read this, I know you will want to start one right 
away. I was asked to go and see the contents of 
one prepared for a little twelve-year-old girl who had 
been very ill and was now forced to lie quietly many 

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''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

hours a day; so her relatives prepared this wonder box. 
They all happened to be staying at the same hotel I was, 
and all wished to do something to help amuse Phyllis and 
make the days less monotonous ; hence the wonder box. 
They went shopping and selected thirty articles, one for 
each day of the month of September; each object was 
daintily wrapped in tissue paper and marked with the 
giver's name. 

Then all the parcels were packed in a box and sent by 
parcel post. A letter instructing the recipient to open 
one package each morning after breakfast, was sent by 
the same mail. Now don't you think a "wonder box'' 
is a very nice idea? Here are some of the things in this 
one: Two books, a box of note paper, bottle of per- 
fumery, two enamel pins, a sachet, three handkerchiefs, 
a hair ribbon, a bonbon box (filled), a dainty apron, box 
of crayons, pretty plate, box of candy, "blue bird" ring, 
pink celluloid comb, little locket, trick pencil, a guest 
towel, two blue-bordered wash cloths, a fountain pen, 
cup and saucer, and a fancy basket. 

Sometimes very small articles are used and wound into 
a ball of worsted or yarn, and one gift a day unwound. 
These are called " wonder " balls, and may be filled with 
seven articles, to last a week, or for any time desired. 
These boxes and balls are sometimes given as "bon 
voyage" presents, and are enjoyed by both children and 
grown-ups. 



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''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

CXIII 

Legomachy 

THE regular "Legomachy" sets may be obtained, 
and " Anagrams " may be used. The cost is very 
small. Home-made sets are quickly constructed by 
taking letters from the top of a daily paper (as they are 
usually good-sized letters). Mount them on squares of 
cardboard or very thin wood. With a scroll saw, these 
are easily managed. Make about three dozen of the let- 
ters most commonly used, with a few extra vowels; a 
half dozen each of "Q," "X," and "Z" will be enough. 
To play the game, give each one the same number of 
letters, the faces turned downward on the table. Each 
one in turn places a letter face up in the center of the 
table, and if he can form a word of not less than three 
letters from those collected, he takes them. This may 
be done either before or after the player has turned up 
the letter. The one playing continues to draw new letters 
as long as he can add them to words already made by 
himself or any other person. The one who turns up the 
last letter is permitted about twenty seconds to claim the 
word, after which any one may take it by first naming it. 
Any player may take from another a word, if by 
adding another letter he can make a materially different 
word from it. 

A change of verbs into their own participles or nouns 
to adverbs or adjectives, is not counted. Proper nouns 
and abbreviations are not counted. A standard dictionary 

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Dame Curtsey's'^ Book of Games 

should be agreed upon as an authority for settHng any 
controversy. 

If one player has a word which may be changed into 
another he must name this transposition ; if he does not 
do so, one of the others, upon announcing it, may capture 
the word for himself. When any one player has ten 
words, all must count the number of syllables their words 
contain and the person having the greatest number of 
syllables wins that game. 

Some players count the one who first has ten words 
as the winner. This point may be decided by those 
playing, before the game is started. 



CXIV 
June Birthday Party 

A LITTLE girl whom the gods favored by ushering 
into this mortal sphere on a sunny June day 
always has her birthday celebrations on the lawn. 
Each year this affair, which was always a costume party 
or a character party of some kind, was looked forward 
to not only by the participants in the pretty pageant, but 
by the grown-ups who were asked to view the scene from 
the broad piazzas. 

The invitations, which were issued two weeks in ad- 
vance, requested the guests to come costumed as an 
accompanying flower designated. These notes were 
written in gold ink on pale pink paper, tied to a pink 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

rosebud; they were delivered from a rose-trimmed 
basket. 

The girls came as roses in all varieties. Then there 
were lily of the valley, violet, tiger lily, daisy, pansy, 
black-eyed Susan, etc. The boys were sunflowers, bach- 
elor's buttons, tulips, red carnation and chrysanthemums, 
and nasturtiums. Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Johnny Jump- 
Up were also represented. Crepe tissue paper and cheap 
gauzes, tinsels, and cambrics entered largely into the con- 
struction of the costumes worn. 

Soap bubbles occupied the first part of the afternoon, 
the tennis court being the place selected for the contest. 
The girls blew the- bubbles and the boys fanned them 
over the net ; the opposite side tried to keep the bubbles 
from going over. The side getting ten bubbles over the 
first won a prize. Then things were reversed, and the 
boys blew and the girls fanned. Glycerine in the propor- 
tion of a tablespoonful to a pint of water was used for 
blowing the bubbles and the pipes had a rim of soap 
around them inside the bowl, which causes the fairy balls 
to grow to immense size ; the glycerin gives lasting quali- 
ties unknown to plain water. There were prizes for this 
contest, consisting of flower-shaped candy boxes filled 
with candied violets and rose petals. 

At five o'clock supper was served from a long table 
over which a canopy of paper roses had been made by 
putting up tall stakes at regular intervals from which 
these garlands were festooned; the roof was made by 
criss-crossing heavy wire and covering with vines. The 

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**Dame Curtsey's'* Book of Games 

roses were suspended by fine wire. The effect was 
excellent. 

Making the roses had furnished the children of the 
house pleasant occupation for more than one rainy spring 
day; having helped in the preparations, they were most 
keenly interested in the success of the party. 

The refreshments consisted of minced chicken sand- 
wiches, lemonade, sugar wafers, strawberry ice cream, 
and a huge birthday cake wreathed in pink roses. Pink 
rose holders held the candles and each child had a wee 
pink iced cake with a wee pink candle in front of his 
place to take home. 

cxv 

A Clothespin Party 

A MOTHER of a twelve-year-old daughter was at 
a loss just how to entertain for her. The doll and 
playing at house and " Come to See " period was 
past and she was too young for a card party, so her 
mother's clever brain evolved the clothespin party which 
I am about to describe. 

The invitations were written and folded, held fast by a 
wee gilded clothespin, and delivered by an obliging young 
brother. When all had arrived a big basket of ordinary 
clothespins was placed in the middle of the room and all 
were told they could have ten minutes in which to build 
a block-house on the floor, following these instructions, 
which the mother read aloud : 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

Start the house foundation with two clothespins laid 
down parallel and sufficiently far apart for two more 
clothespins to bridge this intervening space. Be sure to 
places the clothespins so that they rest on the open edge 
of the prongs and lie steady, for the round edge is apt 
to roll and slide. 

Lay the second two pieces across with their ends on 
the first two pins. Build up the lower part of the house 
in this way, eight layers high. The upper part of the 
building will need longer logs, which may be made by 
taking two pins and fitting the prongs together; with 
these cross the top of the house so the edge projects an 
equal distance on both sides. After the four logs are 
adjusted proceed with the second story the same as the 
first. Use all long logs and continue until it is ten 
*' pins'* high, then make a brown paper or pasteboard 
roof. 

Next take clothespins, dress them like *' early settlers " 
and see how good and lifelike they appear. Plenty of 
black, white, and colored tissue paper must be provided, 
and paste, scissors, and thread. Prizes are awarded for 
the best little men and women manufactured by the 
young artists. 

The table centerpiece was a clothespin house in a yard 
with miniature *'pin" figures; small trees, animals, and 
chickens completed this most realistic scene. The napkins 
were pinned together with gilded " pins," the name card 
tied to the top. 



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Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



GXVI 
A Baseball Luncheon 

A MOTHER who had two sons in a local baseball 
nine gave this original luncheon, inviting the 
''nine" as her special guests. The invitations 
went out on diamond-shaped bits of pink papers and 
were received with great enthusiasm. The hour was one 
o'clock, after which there was a practice game for the 
approaching "big" game which was to decide a cham- 
pionship ; so all were told to come in their baseball suits. 
The center of the table was laid out for a game with 
miniature figures on a " diamond " made from green 
paper; a wire mask held flowers and the place souvenirs 
all represented names of famous baseball nines. There 
were the "Cubs," little stuffed "Red Socks," the 
" Pirates," represented by skull and cross-bones, the 
"Tigers," "Giants," and "Indians." There were also 
miniature bats and balls and the " nine's " mascot, a dog, 
was not forgotten. A hearty meal of beefsteak, spa- 
ghetti with tomato sauce, scalloped potatoes, olives, brown 
and white bread, salted nuts, fruit salad with hot cheese 
sandwiches, individual apple pies, and generous cups of 
cocoa delighted the youthful guests. Molasses candy 
and peppermint sticks were the sweets. The boys went 
off with three cheers and a tiger for the popular mother, 
and she declared she never had more appreciative guests. 



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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CXVII 
Stool-Ball (England) 

THIS game originated first in Merrie England, and 
was played by the milkmaids. 
A certain number of " stools " (flat stones in the 
open air and cushions indoors) are set up in circular 
form, at a considerable distance from each other, and 
every one of them is occupied by a single player; when 
a ball is thrown with the hand high in the air by "it,' 
who stands in the center of the circle, every one of the 
players is obliged to alter his situation, running in suc- 
cession from stool to stool, and if he who threw the ball 
can regain it in time to strike any one of the players 
before reaching the stool to which he is running, "it^ 
takes his place, and the person touched must throw the 
ball until he can in like manner return to the circle. Ris- 
ing quickly from the stone or cushion requires consid- 
erable agility on the part of the players. 






A 



CXVIII 
A Juggling Match 

T English country fairs this amusement used to be 



in great favor : 



A large circle, inclosed by a rope, was occupied 
by nine or ten people, and all except one were blindfolded. 
This one was called the " jingler,'' because he held in his 

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Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



hand a small bell, which he rang incessantly. His com- 
panions, following the sound of the bell, tried to catch 
him. If at the end of an allotted time he was not caught, 
he received a prize; otherwise the prize went to the 
catcher. 



CXIX 

Pebble-Chase (Greek) 

IN this present-day amusement of the Greek children, 
the leader stands amongst the players, holding a 
pebble between the palms of his hands. Each player 
extends his hands, palm to palm, and the leader puts his 
hands between the palms of each player, ostensibly to 
drop in the pebble he is holding. The player who receives 
the pebble is chased by the others, and may only be saved 
by returning to the leader and giving the pebble to him. 
The chase may begin as soon as the players suspect who 
has the pebble, so each player should carefully watch the 
hands and faces of the others to see who gets it, and as 
soon as he suspects one, start to chase him. Leaders and 
players must exercise ingenuity to keep the secret of the 
whereabouts of the pebble, but not after the last pair of 
hands has been passed. 



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*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

cxx 

Buck the Indian 

TWO captains are chosen, and each captain then 
chooses alternately from the remaining company 
until two long lines are formed. They face each 
other, holding hands tightly. One captain calls the name 
of one of his strongest boys, and this boy runs and hurls 
himself between two boys of the opposing side. If he 
succeeds in breaking through, he takes back with him 
to his own side all the boys on the line below the place 
where he broke through. If he is unsuccessful, he must 
join the enemy's side. This is kept up, each side taking 
a turn until all the boys are on one side, the captain 
included. 

The strongest boys should be stationed near the top 
of the line, near the captain, and strategem is shown in 
trying to catch the strong boys off their guard, by pre- 
tending to tackle the weak boys at the bottom of the line. 

CXXI 

Three Chinese Games 

LET OUT THE DOVES 

AT the cry of "Let out the doves" one of the 
larger girls takes hold of the hands of two of the 
smaller girls, one of whom represents a dove and 
the other a hawk. The hawk stands behind the big girl, 
and the dove in front of her. She throws the dove 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

away as she might toss a bird in the air, and as the child 
runs she waves her arms as though they were wings. 
The hawk is then thrown in the same way, and it 
follows the dove. The big girl then claps her hands as 
the Chinese do, to bring their pet birds back to them, 
and the dove, if not caught, returns to the cage. 

SEEK FOR GOLD 

This is a variation of our popular "Jacks.'' Several 
girls gather up some pebbles, squat down in a group, 
and scatter all the pebbles. Then one draws her finger 
between two of the stones and snaps one against the 
other. If she hits it, the two stones are taken up and 
put aside to her credit. She is entitled to draw her 
finger again between two more and snaps them. When 
she misses another girl takes up what pebbles are left, 
scatters them, snaps them, takes them up, and so on 
until one or another child gets the most of the pebbles 
and the game is won. 

KICK THE MARBLES 

Two boys and two marbles are required. The first 
boy says to the second : " Kick this marble north (south, 
east, west),'' pointing to one of the marbles. Only one 
kick is allowed. If he succeeds, he wins; if he fails, 
the other wins. If he puts it north as ordered, he may 
kick again to hit the other marble, in which case he 
wins again. If he hits the marble and it goes north, as 
ordered, at one kick, he wins double. 

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''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

Each boy tries to leave the marbles in as difficult a 
position as possible for his successor ; and here comes in 
a peculiarity which makes this game unique among all 
games. If the position in which the marbles are left is 
too difficult to play, he may refuse to kick, and the first 
boy is obliged to play his own difficult game. 



CXXII 
New Version of a Peanut Party 

ARRANGE tables as for a progressive card game, 
only place a generous handful of peanuts (in the 
shell) in the center of each table and provide a 
pair of tongs like those that come in boxes of candy, for 
each player. After the fashion of jack straws, the game 
is to see how many peanuts can be removed without 
disturbing another. When one is moved the player gives 
up and the next one tries. At the end of twenty minutes 
a bell is rung and the player at each table having the 
most peanuts progresses. The winners at the different 
tables play another round until there is only one winner, 
who receives the reward, which may be a large peanut 
candy box filled with salted peanuts. 

The main thing is to impress upon the children that 
they must play fair. 



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Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



CXXIII 
A Lottery Bag 

THIS is a game enjoyed by children and makes an 
interesting feature for a party. A large vase or 
jar that will admit the hand is required, or a bag 
with a drawstring. Fill this receptacle with peanuts. 
Give the guests slips of paper and ask them to put down 
the number of nuts which they think they can draw out 
in one handful. 

A turn is granted to each one and he puts down the 
number actually taken out. The one who comes nearest 
his or her original number is given a prize and the one 
farthest away from the number receives a consolation 
prize. 

Serve salted peanuts of the "Jumbo'' variety if ob- 
tainable, sandwiches filled with peanut butter and chopped 
pimentos, a salad preferably of sweetbreads, and peanut 
ice cream. If desired, a soup prepared by adding 
crushed peanuts to a cream soup may be served as a first 
course in bouillon cups with whipped cream on top. 



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''Dame Curtsey's" Book of Games 

CXXIV 
Japanese Tag 

OBSERVING a bunch of children going through all 
sorts of comical stunts, I asked what the game 
might be and was told it was Japanese tag. The 
child who is tagged must place his or her left hand on 
the spot touched and keep it there until he is fortunate 
enough to tag someone else. Then the one who is "' it '^ 
tries to tag someone on the knee or foot, so that his 
endeavors to tag the next one with the hand on that part 
of the body will be most difficult as well as very amusing. 

cxxv 

The ''Sandpiper'' Game 

DID you ever watch a dozen youngsters on the beach 
in their bathing suits playing " sandpiper " ? Here 
are the rules of the game : The children, except- 
ing two, turn themselves into a flock of sandpipers, hop- 
ping up and down the beach. Two are '' hunters,'' who 
try to catch the birds, crying : 

Sandpiper, sandpiper, hopping on the sand. 
Come, let us catch you, and join our band ! 

The hunters catch the " birds,'' who are at once turned 
into hunters. The only way a sandpiper can escape is 
to stand on one foot or hop on one leg. So long as he 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

or she remains thus the hunters cannot take him. The 
children love this game, and they look very happy trotting 
around in their little flannel bathing suits. 



CXXVI 
Giving a Pea Party 

IT was out in the country when little Ted's birthday 
came and the children begged for something new, 
something different from any other party. Thus it is 
that even the six-year-olds of this day and age are 
becoming blase and actually demanding novel methods 
of entertainment ! 

The mother, always equal to any desires expressed by 
her young hopefuls, cast her eyes over the garden and 
exclaimed : " I have it.'' She immediately issued notes 
ornamented with a bright green pea pod at the top of the 
page, asking the neighboring children to come to a 
'' pea party " on the day and date mentioned. 

Here is what they found : A great tin pan filled with 
peas which were shelled by the expectant guests. Then 
each took a small bowlful of peas and a bunch of tooth- 
picks. Directions were given to make whatever articles 
they wished. Sewing tables were provided for the little 
architects, and it was surprising the variety of things 
they built in the allotted time. 

There were ladders, chairs, hairpins, furniture of all 
descriptions, dolls, animals enough to stock a farm, and 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

queer contraptions without any names. The refresh- 
ments which were nut sandwiches, gelatine with whipped 
cream, individual birthday cakes, each with a tiny lighted 
candle delighted the small guests immensely. 

CXXVII 
A Jolly Easter Party 

THE invitations to this pretty party were issued in 
a unique way. Wee baskets, each containing an 
egg tied in the middle, carried the following, 
neatly written message: 

Lillian Whiting, 

33 Chestnut Street, 

Easter Party, 

Monday, April 12, 1914, 

2:30 to 6. 

Egg Rolling, 

Rabbit Hunt, 

Lots of Fun. 

The names of the children invited were written on 
Easter cards tied to the handles with white and yellow 
ribbon. Partners for refreshments were found by match- 
ing eggs of the same color. The ice cream was in the 
form of yellow chicks on nests of green spun sugar 
candy. The best of all was the rabbit hunt, which took 
place just before the children went home. Real live 
rabbits (one for each child) were in a screened corner 
of the porch in straw and leaves; the children went one 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

at a time and took a bunny by his ears, put it in a little 
covered basket, and took it home. 

CXXVIII 
Easter Tree 

THIS novel device was thought of by a mother 
whose children were continually demanding some- 
thing new. There was a merry little Easter party. 
Suddenly the doors were opened into the dining room, 
disclosing a tree on the center of the table with a pert 
bunny on top. Then all over the branches were chickens, 
ducks, and bunnies, both brown and *' cotton tails." 
There were nests of eggs at each plate, and in the egg 
hunt which preceded the feast the prizes were " Peter 
Rabbit" and "Mr. Benjamin Bunny." The name cards 
were charming Easter postals with the child's name on 
the address side. The children were perfectly delighted 
with this party and the mother kept the tree a surprise 
even from her own children. 

CXXIX 
For a "Track Meet" 

THESE ideas are adaptable to an outdoor or indoor 
affair and the stunts will add greatly to a school 
party when one class entertains in honor of the 
others. 

This famous "One Yard Dash" will be for "Men 

139 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

Only." Lay off just one yard, give each contestant a 
bright copper cent, which must be laid on a line. At the 
word " go,'' the boys get down on all fours and push the 
cent the yard with their noses. This is very amusing, as 
may well be imagined. The one getting in first wins the 
prize. 

The *' Tug of War " may also be for boys only unless 
the girls wish to try. They must all make their entries 
in the regular way. Tie a raisin firmly in the middle of 
a long piece of twine; each victim takes hold of one end 
with his teeth and begins to chew up the string for the 
raisin. Hands must not assist in any way. 

Next try the '* Standing High Jump.'' Suspend three 
doughnuts in a doorway about four inches higher than 
the mouths of the contestants. Tie hands behind the 
back with handkerchiefs. Then see who gets the first 
bite from the doughnut. 

There will be loads of fun for both girls and boys in 
the so-called *' Hurdle Race." The aspirants are seated 
with six needles on a table in front of them; the one 
who first threads them all has the reward. 

The bunch will probably be thirsty by this time, so try 
this ^* Drinking Race." Each player is given a tumbler 
of water to be consumed by sipping from a spoon. There 
must be no spilling, as that accident bars the contestant 
from the race. The one who drinks it down first is the 
winner. 

The *' Bun " race may also be indulged in by both 
sexes. Set up two poles a good distance apart, connect 

140 



**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

with a new clothes Hne from which hang strings of dif- 
ferent lengths, according to the heights of the players. 
Tie a bun at the end of each string. The players line up 
with hands securely fastened behind them; at a signal 
each tries to eat the bun. The bobbing line makes this 
difficult, but the lucky one who holds the bun in his teeth 
may get it on the ground and in a prostrate position 
consume it. 

Next have the *' Cracker " contest, for girls only. Let 
the players choose sides, then line up opposite each other. 
The plate of crackers is passed, the girls to eat and swal- 
low, then see who can whistle first. Not so easy at it 
sounds. 

Last of all comes the "Rainy Day" race for girls. 
There must be at least five to make it really worth while. 
Stand them in line with a closed satchel (grip) in front 
of each one, in which has been placed a pair of rubbers, 
pair of gloves, and an umbrella beside each bag. When 
"three" has been counted by the starter, the girls open 
the grips, take out the rubbers, put them on, put on the 
gloves, button them, open the umbrellas, close the grips, 
and walk deliberately about lOO feet to the line set as the 
goal ; here they shut the umbrellas, take ofif rubbers and 
gloves, replace them in the grip, close them, and return 
to the starting place, carrying the umbrellas closed and 
the grips. The one arriving first wins. 



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*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CXXX 
A List of Forfeits 

TELL the culprit to grasp the right ankle by the 
right hand while standing on the left foot, bend it 
until the right knee touches the floor, then slowly 
rise to a standing position again. Keep the left hand 
extended, touching nothing. The right foot must not 
touch the floor nor the ankle be released from the right 
hand. 

Now for this test in balance. Seat the forfeit player 
upon a large gallon bottle which is on its side on the 
floor, the heel of the right foot resting on the floor and 
the heel of the left against the toe of the right. Then 
hand him a darning needle and a coarse thread with 
which he must thread the needle without losing balance. 

Put one hand where the other cannot grasp it. Do 
this by grasping the right elbow with the left hand. 

Place an object on the floor so no one can jump over 
it — do this by placing the article in a corner. 

Hold the foot in one hand and walk around the room 
whistling "Yankee Doodle." 

Pose as " Liberty Enlightening the World." 

Stick a pin in the center of a ball of yarn, allowing it 
to stand up so as the victim can catch it with his teeth. 
Black the top of the ball with burnt cork. Play this only 
on a person who will take the joke without getting angry. 

Put ** Mary " through the keyhole. Write the name on 
a bit of paper and poke it through. 

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'^Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CXXXI 
A Paper Party 

^ I ^HIS party had an unusual degree of novelty. 

I First on the program was a "paper" race con- 
ducted as follows : Have as many ten-yard strips 
of paper (such as come around bolts of ribbon) as there 
are guests, also several pairs of blunt scissors. Choose 
three or four as jockeys, placing paper jockey caps on 
their heads. To all the others give twenty paper gun 
wads. 

Line up the jockeys with a number pinned to the sleeve 
of each. The others begin to bet on them with their gun 
wad money. Stretch the rolls of paper ribbon across the 
room, each one held at the opposite end by a person 
selected from the guests. The jockeys have their end and 
a pair of scissors, and at the word "go" they start to 
cut the ribbon straight down the middle, going as fast as 
possible. If they run off they are disqualified and have 
to drop out. The one who reaches the other side first, 
with both bits of ribbon intact, is winner. This act may 
be repeated until all have tried or as long as the hostess 
deems best. First, second, and third prizes may be 
awarded, and bets are to be settled at the end of every 
race. 

Next the hostess presented each guest with a clothes 
pin and a roll of colored tissue paper, some twine, pins, 
needle, and coarse thread, and said : " See who can make 

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*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

the best doll in fifteen minutes." The results were laugh- 
able and very creditable in some instances. All the 
decorations throughout the house were of paper, and 
paper napkins and dishes were used when refreshments 
were served. Paper chains could be made 'for another 
contest, also a prize for the best articles cut from paper, 
like the hand dolls we used to make in our childhood 
days. Caps are quickly made of paper and also very good 
looking hats. 



CXXXII 
A Doll Fete 



1 



THIS IS a charming afifair which was given by chil- 
dren and superintended by older people, but the4j 
girls and boys, too, regarded it as their special en- 
tertainment. There was a sale of dolls, doll house furni- 
ture, and clothes, and a complete doll house was awarded ■! 
to the child whose turnout received the most votes in the 
parade, which was a feature of the evening. Only chil- 
dren under ten years of age participated in this and each 
doll was in a doll buggy trimmed with flowers, or in any 
manner that suited the owner. 

The judges were youthful, too; fourteen was the age. 
The interest in the affair was widespread; fathers 
arranged to be present, school teachers caught the fever ; 
in fact, the " doll festival '' was in the air and some one 
remarked that the way to success lay in interesting the 
children. One especially interesting booth was entirely 

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II 



**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

in charge of boys. They displayed all sorts of home- 
made toys, orders were taken for doll house furniture 
from samples, pictures framed, etc. 

There was a clown doll in a wheel-barrow in the 
parade. Popcorn, salted peanuts, home-made candy and 
*' light" refreshments were on sale, and canned fruits, 
jelly, and other delicacies for sick children were re- 
ceived; also contributions of pictures and cards suitable 
for making into scrap-books. 



CXXXIII 
Easter Party for Little Folks 

THE invitations for this pretty party are china nest 
eggs on which the name and place are written with 
India ink or gold enamel paint. They are placed in 
small handled baskets, which may be purchased by the 
dozen for a trifling sum. Delivering these novel invita- 
tions affords much pleasure to the children. 

An egg hunt will occupy a good share of the time from 
three until six. Procure the dainty eggs made at the 
candy-shops at this season of the year, hide them every 
place, then let the children hunt for them. Make egg- 
shaped bags of tarlatan to hold the spoils or have small 
baskets. Award prizes of yellow chicks, rabbits, butter- 
flies, and any of the many charming novelties provided 
by the stores for the joyous season. 

After this seat the little folks at tables with boxes of 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

paint, brushes, and fancy pictures. Give each one an tgg 
with the privilege of decorating it. Now for the refresh- 
ments, which are to be served at six o'clock, so the chil- 
dren will need no other meal when they return home. 
First serve ** magic " eggs, made by selecting good smooth 
potatoes ; bake until almost done, then carefully scoop 
out a hole large enough to hold an egg, tie the top on, 
and replace in the oven to finish baking. These are 
wholesome and furnish a mystery as to how the egg got 
there. Pass sandwiches and cocoa, and then comes the 
best of the feast — vanilla ice cream in the form of eggs 
in nests of candied orange peel strips. A green wicker 
basket drawn by two rabbits makes an attractive center- 
piece for the table. 

CXXXIV 
An Animal Party 

AS each child enters, a slip of paper containing the 
name of an animal is to be pinned upon his back 
and he is told he must guess from the conversa- 
tion of those around him what animal he is supposed to 
represent. Then pass booklets ornamented with cute 
little "Teddy" bears and pencils. On a door have a 
poster of the animals going two by two into the ark and 
the words, " This way to the greatest show on earth." 
Admit the guests in groups to this room, where the cages 
containing the animals will be found, allowing ten minutes 
for each group to guess what the cages contain. Here 

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*^Dame Curtsey's'* Book of Games 

IS a list of animals, which may be added to by individual 
hostesses: *'Kid" (a glove of kid), "lynx" (links of a 
chain), *'rat'' (hair rat), *' monkey" (letters M O N 
and a door key), "chamois" (a piece of chamois), 
"lion" (a doll's pillow), "goat" (a small piece of 
butter), "peacock" (a dried pea and a toy rooster), 
"bear" (a tiny undressed doll), "eagle" (the letter E 
and a picture of a sea gull). 

The cages (boxes crossed with wire) are numbered 
and the guests write down what they suppose the 
animal is in the booklet opposite a corresponding num- 
ber. Animal candy boxes are good for prizes. Then 
have a contest to see who can come the nearest pinning a 
goat's whiskers on In the proper place, the contestant to 
be blindfolded. 

Serve an ice, "animal" cookies, and barley sugar 
animals. 

cxxxv 

Circus Suggestions for Parties 

CLOWN cakes will be much appreciated by youth- 
ful guests. Bake a simple cake mixture in small 
round muffin pans. Frost some with white, some 
with chocolate, making eyes, nose, and mouth of con- 
trasting color. Around each put tiny frills of colored 
crepe paper and the cakes will look like funny faces 
beneath little bonnets. 

With these serve circus lemonade. Take large smooth- 

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*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

skinned lemons, cut off one end, hollow out and place 
in ice water. Cut black court-plaster eyes, nose, and 
mouth, dry the shells, and paste these on in as grotesque a 
manner as possible. Then make little dunce caps of red 
and white stiff paper, leaving a hole at the top to receive 
a straw ; fill the cups with lemonade, put on the caps, stick 
in the straws, and they are ready to serve. 

For a centerpiece have a tiny tent, with miniature ani- 
mals in a procession. At each child's plate have a wee 
tent of paper, a flag on it, with a rail fence of opera 
sticks around it. Under each tent have salted peanuts. 

Have striped paper bags filled with popcorn and the 
small guests will be perfectly delighted with the " circus '* 
party. 

CXXXVI 
Moon and Morning Stars 

HERE is a Spanish game that I am sure the children 
will enjoy. One thing is necessary, and that is 
bright sunshine, for this pastime. The girl who 
represents the moon stands in the shadow of a large tree 
or building and she cannot go out into the sunshine. All 
the other players are the morning stars, and belong in the 
daylight, so they stay out in the sun; occasionally they 
venture into the shadow, calling alluringly : 

Oh, the moon and the morning stars, 
Oh, the moon and the morning stars. 
Who dares to tread, oh ! 
Within the shadow? 

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*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

The watchful moon keeps her eyes open and pounces 
upon some too venturesome star, catches her and takes 
her place among the stars, and the victim becomes the 
moon. 

CXXXVII 

Cobbler Game for Wee Tots 

HERE is something the little kiddies will enjoy: 
Tell one of the children to call himself the 
"cobbler" and sit on the floor, while the others 
join hands and dance around him. The cobbler says: 

*^ Now is the time to try on your shoes," and at once, 
but without leaving his seat, reaches for the feet of one 
in the ring, while the players, who must not let go of 
hands, endeavor to dance out of his reach. If one is 
caught, he, or she, becomes the cobbler. 



CXXXVIII 

A Bonnet Party 

DO not say that bonnet parties are old, until you 
hear about this one, which was given for twenty 
children. When all had arrived, the hostess 
passed three sheets of colored tissue paper, some squares 
of crepe paper of gay color, and two fancy paper napkins 
to each child. On a center table she put pins, scissors, 
tubes of paste, little towels, and a bowl of water for 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

wiping the paste from finger tips. She said a half hour 
would be allowed for making any kind of a hat, cap, or 
bonnet, the maker to don the headgear. When time was 
called they formed in line and passed before the judges, 
who awarded the prizes. 

Such a busy time as those children had ! They were 
really most clever, too, in building their hats. The oldest 
guest was eleven and the youngest eight, and some of 
the work was excellent. The prizes were doll band 
boxes containing lovely hats for dolly. The ice cream 
was served in the dearest straw hats (doll size) lined 
with waxed paper. The children enjoyed the novelty 
and each one went home with her creation on her head. 
It is needless to say there were no boys at this party. 
The young hostess declared that boys frorh nine to 
twelve were "no fun." I do not know what our boy 
friends will say to this ; perhaps some of them will mend 
their ways a bit, so as not to be left out of parties. 



CXXXIX 
A Gypsy Party 

IF any of you have any bits of birch bark or can get 
paper in the imitation of wood, use it for invitations 
to a gypsy party. Ask the guests to come in costume. 
You may word the cards something like this: "There 
will be a meeting of the ' Romany Rye ' two hours after 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

sundown at (Give place, day, date). Please come wear- 
ing the costume of your tribe/' 

Read up on gypsies and have the time of your life at 
this very picturesque party. Beads, buckles, bracelets, 
white waists, gay skirts, and velvet bodices may be worn 
by the girls, with low shoes and hose to match the dress 
skirt — a broad brimmed hat or a red and yellow kerchief 
on the head with hair loose or in braids down the back. 
Boys should wear high crowned hats with quills and 
maybe a feather, gayly striped shirts, velvet jackets, long 
waistcoats, full trousers with long stockings and buckled 
shoes. Bright ties or handkerchiefs should be knotted 
around coUarless necks. 

A gypsy kettle may be the centerpiece with wee kettles 
for individual place favors. A picnic lunch may be 
served. 



CXL 

Widower, or Last Couple Out 

FIFTEEN to twenty-five boys and girls may play this 
jolly game. The first thing to do is to choose part- 
ners and stand in couples behind each other. One 
player called widower stands in front of the line facing 
in the same direction. He calls ^' Last couple out,'' and 
immediately the last couple, running one to each side of 
the line, endeavors to join hands in front of the widower, 
who endeavors to tag one of them before they clasp 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

hands. If successful they return to the Hne as first 
couple, and the widower again takes his place in front of 
the line and another couple runs from the end of the line 
when he calls. If the widower tags some one, that player 
becomes the widower, and the former widower returns to 
the head of the line with the other player. The widower 
must not look around as he calls nor run back along the 
line of couples to catch a player. 



CXLI 
A Hunting Game 

THIS is a lively pastime for any number of children, 
as ten or forty can play either outdoors or indoors. 
A large yard with two small spaces (called dens 
or traps) at opposite corners are necessary. One child is 
called the hunter and stands in the middle of the yard. 
The other children are given the names of different ani- 
mals (or birds), several having the same name, and stand 
in one of the dens. The hunter calls for a certain animal 
(or for two kinds), when all of that name must try to 
reach the other den before the hunter tags them. If one 
is tagged he takes the place of the hunter, and the hunter 
takes the place of an animal. There may be two hunters 
when a large number is playing, but only one must call 
the animaVs name. 



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Dame Curtsey's'* Book of Games 



CXLII 
Duck on a Rock 

ALL you need for this delightful game is a bean 
bag for each player, and one large Indian club. 
Fifteen to thirty children may play at one time. 
Make a large circle with the Indian club in the center 
and have each child fifteen or twenty feet away from the 
club. Each child in turn throws his bag (overhand shot) 
at the club, and the one whose bag falls nearest it becomes 
"it'' or guard. The guard places his duck (bag) on 
the head of the club, and the children take turns around 
the circle in trying to knock it off. The child who suc- 
ceeds in knocking the duck off the rock (club) runs to the 
center and endeavors to place his duck upon the rock 
before the guard can take his own duck and gain a place 
in the circle. If successful in this, the guard must return 
with his duck and become guard again, but if not success- 
ful this child then becomes guard. The children in the 
circle should recover their ducks as soon as possible, 
but a guard may tag them at any time and the tagged 
child who fails to place his duck on the rock before the 
guard can get his own duck- and return to the circle must 
become guard. 



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'"Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CXLIII 
''Sneeze" for the Children 

HERE IS a funny performance that children enjoy, 
which will add much to an evening's program. 
Divide the company into three parts. Tell the 
first group to shout *' Ish," the second '* Ash/' and the 
third " Shoo/' at a given signal. This conglomerate 
sound most resembles a gigantic sneezing. For the want 
of a better term the youngsters call it "sneeze/' and 
always clamor to " do it again." 



CXLIV 
A Clever After-Dinner Trick 

TAKE a dinner plate and fill with water to the depth 
of an eighth of an inch, perhaps a little more. 
Then put a small bit of candle in the center, light, 
and over it place a tall glass tumbler, such as lemonade 
or iced tea is served in. Just as the inverted tumbler 
touches the plate, the water will rise within the glass. 
The taller this covering the more effective the trick. 



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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CXLV 
An Indian Party 

NOW that so many children have Indian suits, try 
this for a party: Put up one or two wigwams 
and send the invitations on paper arrows through 
which a feather is thrust. Have them delivered by the 
little Indian who is to be the host. Girls may be dressed 
as squaws. 

There are Indian post cards, which would make very 
good place cards or souvenirs. For refreshments serve : 

Corn Meal Mush with Milk. 

Fish or Some Kind of Game. 

Corn Muffins. 

Indian Meal Pudding. 

made in individual ramekins. 

Make a contest of stringing beads and have a game of 
archery. 

CXLVI 

United States Mail 

THERE is no limit to the number of players. A 
circle is formed and one chosen leader gives each 
player the name of a town or city. The leader, 
who is now called the '' Postmaster,'' stands in the middle 
and calls the name of the mail to be exchanged, and while 

155 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

the letters are being transmitted from '' Boston to New 
York/' the "postmaster*' tries to slip into one or the 
other of the places vacated. If he is successful, the one 
who is lost in transit takes the place of the postmaster 
and calls two other cities ; it is also permissible to call 
two more exchanges in rapid succession, so that two or 
three couples may be changing at the same time. When 
the postmaster calls ** General Delivery " everyone- 
changes places. You see this is just about like our oldj 
friend " Stage Coach," only disguised with another name! 



CXLVII 

Charades 

IT is great fun in a club to divide into sides and each 
side get up a charade for an evening entertainment. 
I will give a list of words that are very easily adapted 
to representation: Window, groomsman, music, break- 
fast, bandage, courtship, cannibal, carmine, forty, clothes- 
horse, crocodile, Manhattan Island, bedlam, turkey, wed- 
lock, jackknife, illiterate, bullseye, dramatic, sinecure, 
manicure, ingratiate, felicity, Constantinople. 

We used to work ours out quite elaborately with cos- 
tumes and really clever talking parts. Impromptu pro- 
ductions are always good fun, using whatever Is at hand 
for the costumes and scenery. 

One that a girl did all by herself comes to me now. 
She was a slight, tiny creature and appeared in the door- 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

way wrapped in an enormous greatcoat. **I represent 
two cities in France; guess me/' she said, and it was 
some time before the clever one exclaimed, *' Toulouse 
and Toulon." Good, is it not ? 



CXLVIII 
"Hop Over" 

THE players are asked to form a circle about two 
feet apart from each other. The leader stands in 
the middle, holding a long, stout string to the end 
of which is tied a small book wrapped in paper. He 
whirls the book around the circle on the floor, holding 
it by the string, and each time coming nearer the feet 
of the players who form the ring. As the book comes 
nearer and nearer the feet the players must jump over it. 
As the book is whirled very rapidly the jumping becomes 
more lively and makes loads of fun. If the book touches 
the foot of anyone, that person must take a turn in the 
middle and try to touch the foot of some one who will 
take his turn. Just try this and see how amusing it is. 



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'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CXLIX 
Fun with Buttons 

**¥^ UT we don't know how to play cards," wailed the 
p^ fourteen-year-old, '' and we do want a progressive 
^"^ party with prizes and score cards." So that is 
how this amusement came about : 

There were sixteen guests, so four card tables were 
arranged with a pile of assorted buttons in the middle of 
each. Cloth-covered buttons and shank ones were barred. 
Partners were chosen by matching four buttons of a kind 
which were passed on trays. This made a jolly prelim- 
inary time. A fifth button was sewed to a corner of the 
table ; thus the four white agate buttons found their table, 
the four shoe buttons and four black buttons and the four 
smoked pearls. On the table four needles were placed 
(No. 7) threaded with a stout white thread about 
eighteen inches long ; longer than this will tangle. It is a 
good plan to wax the thread a bit, too. When the bell 
rang, the play began, threading buttons, using one hand 
only; at the expiration of the time, say four or five 
minutes, the ring of the bell stops work and the two 
having the most buttons to their credit progress to the 
next table. Before going the number is placed on score 
card and the buttons replaced in the center of the table. 
Very cute score cards may be made by gluing bone 
buttons such as are used on underwaists to the card ; they 
have only eyes, and the nose, mouth, hair, and eyelashes 

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*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

are painted on. Queer bodies are drawn or painted on 
the famous " goop '' order, and the result is laughable in 
the extreme. Here is another button stunt: Choose 
partners by matching ribbons on which a button is sewed 
on the ends just for decoration. Then furnish each 
couple with a small square of cloth, six buttons, a needle 
and thirty inches of thread. The girl must hold the 
needle for the boy to thread, then she must hold the cloth 
for him while he sews on the six buttons. The couple 
who finish first win the prize. Suggestions for prizes 
would be a button bag, gold collar buttons, collar-button 
box, and at the favor counter candy boxes are obtainable 
in shape of spools of thread or silk, also thimbles. They 
would make appropriate souvenirs. 



CL 

A Witch and Goblin Party 

CHILDREN dearly love to dress up and the party 
described will delight them. Ask the girls to come 
as witches in scarlet frocks or capes, with tall 
black hats, and the boys as goblins. The beloved 
" Brownies " will serve as models for the boys' costumes. 
Just for this one occasion set the hours from "nine to 
twelve," for it really would not be a true hallowe'en 
party if they could not stay until the '* clock in the steeple 
strikes twelve," that witching hour when ghosts walk, 
when cold chills run down one's back, and that delicious 

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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

creepy sensation comes when trying the charms that must 
be done precisely at the mysterious midnight hour. It 
may be a little hard on mothers and chaperons, but they 
must all smile and look happy on hallowe'en night and 
do their part to placate the evil spirits. A cotillion with 
appropriate favors is the best wind-up for this party and 
the guests are supposed to be from twelve to fifteen years 
of age. 



CLI 
A Spool Party 

THIS party was certainly a novelty for the twelve 
little guests who were invited to spend the hours 
from three to five with the six-year-old hostess. 
The oldest child asked had passed her ninth birthday, 
and she proved a decided help in assisting to amuse the 
younger ones. The mother said she had been saving 
spools for months, begging them of her friends, and had 
even done an extra amount of sewing to get sufficient 
spools for this party. 

First, dolls were made by inserting a pasteboard nose 
in a slit and doing the face with a tiny brush and black 
paint (ink will do), toothpicks were stuck in slits for 
arms, and the children were greatly interested in the 
construction of these wooden men. 

Then a bowling alley was made by elevating one end 
of an ironing board and arranging spools at the other 

i6o 



Dame Curtsey's*' Book of Games 

like ten pins. A prize was given to the child making the 
best score. 

Coarse needles and colored twine were provided for a 
spool stringing contest, with another prize, and when 
refreshments were served there was a spool-shaped candy 
box (bought at the favor counter) filled with sugar 
peppermints for each child to take home. So, good 
mothers, save your spools if you want to provide some- 
thing new for your little one's party. 



CLII 
A Jolly Outdoor Party 

THIS was a decided success, for the children were 
so enthusiastic. The affair took place in the 
country, but I do not think a city back yard or a 
park would fall short of the requirements. Of course, 
all depends upon the weather, for this party requires 
snow and a frozen pond if possible. 

The hours were from five to eight, and it was quite 
dark when the gay youngsters assembled. The mothers 
had been instructed to dress the little guests, who were 
from ten to fourteen, very warmly with sweaters and 
mittens. Japanese lanterns were strung all over the lawn 
and twinkled brightly in the darkness; then there were 
huge bonfires built along the edge of the pond with care- 
takers to watch for sparks. There were skating races, 
running races, tobogganing, and a merry game of hare 

i6i 



*'Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

and hounds, with red confetti for " scent/' The last 
stunt was storming a snow fort, the children being 
divided into two sides, white men and '' Indians/' After 
this excitement they were called in to a supper consisting 
of piping hot oyster soup, hot buttered crackers, olives, 
turkey sandwiches, then ice cream in shape of snowballs 
with a little flag in the top of each ball; the cakes were 
balls, too, rolled in cocoanut form. A big sleigh took all 
the children home, each with a tin horn which was tied 
with scarlet ribbons. 



CLIII 
An Indian Wigwam Party 

HALF of the players hide and have ten minutes to 
make their trail with cut papers (confetti) or 
corn. Each Indian goes a different way. Then at 
the expiration of the time limit the other players, who 
are '' white men,'' go on the trail and the game is to see 
who can return to the wigwam first with his Indian. 

While these are supposed to be boys' games, girls enjoy 
them, too. I speak from experience, for it was the 
delight of my childhood days to **play Indian/' 



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Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 



CLIV 
Stunts for a Musical Party 

THIS party was given for a class of young students 
about the age of twelve. First they played musical 
"stage coach" after the same fashion as we all 
used to play it years ago, only each child was given a 
musical term, and rose when his or her word was men- 
tioned and turned around. The forfeits were redeemed 
by playing a piece upon the piano. 

Then they had a novel spelling match upon the piano. 
The hostess said the tones would spell words. Anyone 
who could tell the tones in letters was to do so, writing 
down the words upon slips of paper. This was, of course, 
invaluable as an ear test. The tone combinations were 
played very slowly and repeated several times. The 
following were the words spelled : Bag, abe, abed, bad, 
abbe, ace, add, dad, bed, bead, age, be, aged, beef, beg, 
ebb, added, fag, fed, fad, deaf, fade, tgg, cage, faded, dab. 
The prizes were candy boxes in the shape of musical 
instruments. There were ice cream and cookies for 
refreshments, and to make fun the cookies were cut in 
letters, only the first seven being used, and the children 
had to tell the signature in sharps or flats of the key rep- 
resented by the letter each took. 



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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CLV 

The Story Tent 

AT a lawn fete one of the most popular attractions 
was a small tent that would hold a dozen children 
seated at one time, in which a charming young 
woman told stories lasting fifteen minutes. The admis- 
sion was ten cents. When the story was finished the] 
audience left the tent and another crowd was admitted. 
A gypsy "barker" stood outside and another gypsy' 
strolled through the grounds selling tickets. Any child 
could go in a second time if another ticket was pur- 
chased. This was an easy way to add clear profit to 
the afl:air. There was absolutely no expense in prepara- 
tion, as the tent was loaned and those in charge happened 
to have their gypsy costumes. 



CLVI 
The Game of Deerfoot 

ALL the players represent diflferent kinds of deer — 
reindeer, elk, moose, antelope, red deer, fallow 
deer (sometimes called mule deer)-— does, and 
fawns. If real trees are not available, have pieces of 
white paper held to the ground by sharpened sticks. 
There must be one less tree than deer. The extra deer 
stands in the middle of the forest. A leader is chosen 

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**Dame Curtsey's*' Book of Games 

by popular vote or by the hostess, and then all follow 
him, skipping lightly around the forest. Suddenly the 
deer in the center calls "Deerfoot,** and then each one 
must run rapidly to a tree for shelter. Of course the 
deer in the center also runs for a tree. The deer that 
fails to find a tree is called ** snail,'' takes the place in the 
middle, and the game proceeds. 



CLVII 
Human Ninepins 

THE boys are set up, exactly like ninepins, at the 
end of a room or, better still, on the lawn. They 
stand on the left foot, with the right one placed 
behind the left knee, arms folded. The girls roll the 
ball, taking turns. When the ball is rolled they may 
hop aside to avoid being touched; but if the ball does 
touch them or they put down the other foot they are 
supposed to be knocked down and out. This continues 
just like a real game. A score is kept and prizes may 
be awarded. 



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**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CLVIII 

Barrel Hoop Bean Bag 

YOUNG children are very fond of this pastime. 
Take barrel hoops and wind them with gay ribbon, 
or crepe tissue paper; suspend a small bell in the 
center. Hang the hoop up and give each child a small 
bean bag the same color as the hoop. The aim is to 
ring the bell when it is thrown through the hoop. Five 
trials are permitted, and the one who rings the bell the^ 
most out of five receives a prize. 



CLIX 

Royalty 

THIS game requires an equal number of boys and 
girls. Lots are drawn by the boys for "king," 
and by the girls for "queen.'* Then they sit in 
two rows facing each other. Each follower is num- 
bered. At the same moment the king and the queen 
call two numbers and the two bearing these numbers 
arise and run around the circle, the king's follower run- 
ning after the queen's. 

If he catches her before she completes the circle he 
takes her to the king's side, but she releases her number ; 
if he does not catch her, he pays the penalty by going to 
the queen's side. When all the numbers have been called 
the side having the most wins. 

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Darrie Curtsey^s'' Book of Games 

CLX 

New Bird Game 

SUPPLY the guests with pencils, and cards bearing as 
many numbers as there are birds portrayed by vari- 
ous methods on the walls. One clever hostess turned 
this into what she called *' Bird Charades," and had them 
illustrated from one end of the room, which was curtained 
off, the audience guessing them. These examples will 
show how the names of the birds may be demonstrated. 
Number each illustration, guest to write his guess opposite 
the corresponding number on the card. Allow a half hour 
for the guessing. 

Blackbird : A bird cut from black paper. Redwing : 
A home with a wing painted red. Flicker: A candle 
blowing in the wind. Highhole : A hole in the top of 
the paper. Cuckoo : A cook and two o's. Woodpecker : 
A match, a peck measure, and an R. Meadow lark: 
Children romping in a meadow. Yellow-breasted chat: 
Two men, with yellow shirt fronts, talking together. 
Brown thrasher: A schoolmaster in brown with a rod 
in his hand. Cardinal : A church dignitary. Crow : A 
cock in the act of crowing. Hawk: A peddler. Swal- 
low: A child eating. Swift: A boy running. Cross- 
bill : A bill on which are written these words, " Pay at 
once !" Spoonbill : A spoon and a bird's beak. Bluejay : 
A blue J. Fox sparrow : A-lox and the letters S and P 
above an arrow. Song sparrow: A bar of a song, a 

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''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

spar, and a man rowing. Junco : A junk cart and an O. 
Bluebird : A bird with drooping head and wings. Wag- 
tail : A dog. Maryland yellow-throat : A map of Mary- 
land and a stork with a yellow neck. Chippy: A man 
chopping wood. Flycatcher: A piece of flypaper. Red- 
start: The word "start" Avritten in red ink. Indigo 
bunting: A scrap of blue bunting. Kinglet: A child 
wearing a crown. Pewee : A small P. Humming-bird : 
A spinning top. The names of other birds, such as cat- 
bird, oven-bird, snowflake, yellow-hammer, brown 
creeper, kingfisher, sandpiper, chickadee, etc., will suggest 
their own illustrations. 

Plave chicken in some form (sandwiches are always 
acceptable), and ices or cream in shape of birds will be 
appropriate. It will be easy to manage **bird" cookies, 
and perhaps the confectioner will make nests of spun 
sugar in which candy eggs may be placed. 

These would be charming at each place on the table. 
There are many delightful as well as inexpensive bird 
books to give for prizes. 

CLXI 

Mystic Thoughts 

FOR young people the game of "* mystic thoughts" 
is a good one, and if cleverly done is really quite 
exciting. Two persons work together and plan 
their method beforehand. They tell the company that 
much of their success depends upon their concentration. 

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**Dame Curtsey's*' Book of Games 

One of the two then disappears out of sight and hearing. 
The one remaining asks the circle definitely to settle on 
a trade, and think of that one thing so steadily that the 
right thought may be transmitted to the absent one, who 
is then asked to come back. The co-worker asks a num- 
ber of questions, such as " Is it a painter? " " No." " Is 
it a minister ? " " No." " Is it a blacksmith ? '' '' Yes." 
The trick is to mention a profession just before the trade 
agreed upon is mentioned. 

CLXII 
A Tree Picnic 

A PICNIC on trees is conducted in this way : When 
all the guests have assembled, tell each one to 
take a tray and go out in the yard and find all the 
*' trees" on a card which is handed to them. 

Children love mystery, and they will scamper off right 
merrily. Here is the list of trees, and, to tell you the 
truth, many of them are just bushes or shrubs : 

The Paper Tree, the Bread Fruit Tree, the Egg Plant, 
the Olive Tree, the Cucumber Vine, the Apple Tree, the 
Sugar Maple Tree, the Japanese Tree, the Palm Tree, 
the Date Tree, the Rubber Tree, the Walnut Tree, the 
Lemon and Orange Trees. 

On the paper tree the young folks found tissue paper 
napkins, pasteboard plates, and dainty paper caps and 
paper aprons for the girls ;^e "bread fruit tree" had 
sandwiches done up in oiled paper, the ends twisted, and 

169 



^*Dame Curtsey's'* Book of Games 

the person in charge saw to it that each child had two 
(later, trays of sandwiches were passed, so everyone had 
plenty). 

Of course the thorn tree was the one chosen for the 
egg plant and had a nice hard-boiled egg for each child 
stuck on a well-placed thorn; and how the children did 
laugh when they found that under the so-called olive 
tree was a table with a tray containing little paper 
cases filled with olives, and the cucumber vine pre- 
sented its offering the same way! Joyfully the little 
hunters found the apple tree, with its red, glossy fruit 
suspended by strings, a pair of scissors helping the guests 
obtain the coveted fruit. The sugar maple was alluring 
with maple bonbons done up in gayly colored tissue paper, 
the ends fringed and twisted. On the " Jap " tree there 
were fans for the girls and for the boys, while under 
the **palm" tree (borrowed from the greenhouse) there 
was a quaint gypsy who told fortunes. 

The walnut tree had English walnuts suspended from 
it, and each one contained a tiny favor like a doll, pen- 
knife (doll size), or some very diminutive article. 

Orangeade was dispensed from the tree which bore 
golden oranges on its branches. Rubber balls hung from 
the rubber tree, and were used to play with after the 
feast. After all had the trays filled they sat down on 
rugs which had been conveniently placed and plenty of 
eatables were passed. The little guests pronounced this 
the very best of picnics, and it is one not hard to carry 
out. 

170 



**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CLXIII 

Snake and Humming Birds 

IN this the boys make a chain by linking arms or, as it 
is called on this occasion, a snake, and the girls are 
humming birds, darting about alone, and the trick is 
to prevent any of the birds being encircled by the snake. 
When a bird is captured she has to stand to one side and 
await the capture of her mates. This is a game for a 
large number. 

CLXIV 

Fox and Geese 

TWO children are chosen, one for the goose and 
one for the fox; all the rest being little goslings 
hiding behind Mother Goose, each one holding the 
player in front so that a long line is made. Brer Fox 
endeavors to capture the last child in the line, and if in 
the efforts of the goose to protect her goslings any of 
the latter become detached from the line, both that un- 
lucky gosling and all those behind her are taken by the 
wily fox and have to hang to him. When the two sides 
are about equally divided, a handkerchief or coat or 
piece of wood is laid on the ground and a tug of war 
ensues until one line is drawn over the barrier. This is 
a strenuous game and fatalrto fine or thin clothing, so 
only to be played in rompers or middy suits. 

171 



'*Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CLXV 
A Vagabond Party 

THIS IS another version of a "poverty" or '*hard 
times '' party, only the children will come in tramp, 
gypsy, or regular hobo costumes. Write the invita- 
tions on brown wrapping paper tied up with a string and 
fastened with a dab of red sealing wax; deliver them, 
for of course the price of mailing must be saved. There 
will be " umbrellas to mend " folk, *' ole rags and iron " 
men, gypsy fortune tellers and horse traders, hand organ 
grinders, flower girls, match girls, street fakers of all 
kinds, newsboys and girls, and all sorts of house-to-house 
peddlers, who will have all manner of ridiculous things 
to sell. 

Decorations should consist of milk bottles and tin cans 
filled with wild flowers and even tissue paper posies. For 
lights have lamps and candles, with boxes and rude 
board benches for seats. Dancing may be the amuse- 
ment, as it is so universally indulged in these days, or 
the hostess may arrange games and contests. 

When it comes to refreshments have newspaper pack- 
ages tied up with string, there being a pasteboard plate, 
a fork and spoon and a paper napkin within. Use pans, 
tin cups or broken sets of cups and saucers for coffee; 
then have ham sandwiches, baked beans in ramekins, 
potato salad, cheese, peanuts, and picldes. It will be fun 
to let each child tell his tale of woe, explain the merits 
of his case and describe the wares he has to sell. 

172 



**Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

CLXVI 

Clock Golf 

THE first requirements are a smooth, grassy place, 
at least twenty-four feet in diameter (it may be 
larger) ; then twelve feet of stout string must be 
tied to a clothes pin which must be pushed into the center 
of the selected space. With this string as a radius and 
a bit of white chalk tied to the other, mark out as perfect 
a circle as possible. 

Next, this circle is divided into twelve equal parts just 
like the face of a clock. At each division put a disc (you 
can buy them at any store where sporting goods are 
kept) ; lacking these a clothes pin painted white may be 
pushed in at each of the twelve points. 

This being done, select a spot just four feet from the 
center of the clock face and sink a tin can, about four 
inches in diameter, so that the edge of the can is below 
the surface of the ground, so that the edge will not pre- 
vent the ball from dropping right into this receptacle 
when it reaches the edge. 

One golf ball is required and one putter, and each 
player starts from No. i and putts to the hole. After 
making it, start from 2 and putt to the hole, and so on 
around, and the game being to see who can do all the 
twelve points in the least number of strokes, without 
touching the ball except with the putter, going from the 
hole to the numbers. ^ 

There may be some who do not understand golf, so 

173 



''Dame Curtsey's'' Book of Games 

we will explain that the "putter" is a short handled, 
weighted club. In using it try to gauge the length of 
each point from the home, and control the force of the 
blow so the ball will go in but not beyond it. 




DIAGRAM OF GAME 

Each player adds his score as he goes, so provide cards 
and pencils. This is a good solitaire pastime, for you can 
try to beat your own record. Those who play enjoy it 
and it seems to be ranking with and in some cases sup- 
planting the popular game of croquet. 



174 



TOPICAL INDEX 



TOPICAL INDEX 
Birthdays 

PAGE 

A June Birthday Party 24 

Poinsettia Birthday Party . 39 

Red Balloons for a Holiday Party . 35 

Novel Birthday Party 49 

Novel Birthday Party Decorations 'J'] 

A Ship Party 82 

A Birthday Custom 85 

A Baby's Birthday Party 95 

For a Birthday Child 103 

June Birthday Party 125 

Christmas 

Pretty Christmas Table . 33 

A Christmas Tree for the Baby 34 

For the Birds' Christmas . 35 

Christmas Snowballs 36 

A Santa Claus Party zi 

" Puss in Boots '' at Christmas 38 

Invitation Jingle for a Christmas Party 39 

A Christmas Post Office , 41 

The Game of Christmas Candle 41 

A Christmas Pastime for Children 42 

Unique Holiday Party 43 

Christmas Tree Party 54 

For a Child's Christmai .105 

A Snowball Christmas 105 

At the Sign of the Holly . r~^ 106 

Santa Claus Puzzle Game 108 

Christmas Fun 108 



Topical Index 



Doll Parties 

PAGE 

A Paper Doll Party 28 

A Cobweb Doll Party 27 

A Sewing Party for a Dolly 28 

A Doll Birthday Party 29 

A Sale for Dolly 30 

A Doirs Wedding 31 

Easter 

A Bunny Party . 16 

For the Eastertide 21 

An Easter Party for Children 67 

A Jolly Easter Party 138 

Easter Tree 139 

Easter Party for Little Folks 145 

Halloween 

Bobbing for Apples . • . 81 

The Flour Stunt 81 

Chestnut Brownies 90 

A Halloween Party Invitation 91 

Halloween Fun 96 

A Witch and Goblin Party 159 

Indoor Games 

A Jolly " Animal " Game 23 

Animal Blind Man's Buff 24 

The Game of " Pass It " 47 

A New "Garden" Party . 51 

"Up Jenkins'' 52 

178 



Topical Index 



PAGE 

A Bluebird Party 59 

A Caramel Hunt 59 

Fun with Soap Bubbles 60 

Advertising Pictures 62 

Letter Game 63 

Passing Pennies 65 

Fire Buckets 72 

Deft Finger Test 73 

Character and Object 74 

"Buzz" 75 

" Lady Jane " 76 

The Minister's Cat 76 

Matching Partners 85 

A New Blind Man's Buff 88 

"Number" Blind Man's Buff 89 

Playing Menagerie 90 

Guessing Noses lOl 

Legomachy 124 

For a "Track Meet" 139 

Cobbler Game for Wee Tots 149 

" Sneeze " for the Children 154 

United States Mail 155 

Charades 156 

"Hop Over" 157 

Royalty 166 

New Bird Game 167 

Mystic Thoughts . . • 168 

Miscellaneous 

Bon Voyage Gifts 15 

Snow Men for Children's Party^^. 50 

Indian Geographical Names 53 

Shut-in Day Amusements 58 

179 



Topical Index 



PAGE 

For the Closing of School ..... ^ ••,. . 44 

Music for Children ......•♦.*»•. 48 

A Fairy Gift Bag .. ^ ...•••..• • 64 

An After-Dinner Trick «...«••••••• 73 

The Daisy Chain • • . . 78 

Bag and Wand 89 

Sunday Pastimes for Children ...•••••• 94 

A Baby Parade . 99 

An Unique Musicale . 100 

Portraying Nature with Bible Verses 102 

" Catches " for Idle Moments . 104 

A Wonder Box . 122 

A Lottery Bag 135 

A List of Forfeits .......•••••• 142 

A Clever After-Dinner Trick . . . . . . , . . . 154 

The Story Tent 164 

Outdoor Games 

Old-Fashioned Games $6 

Chinese Game for Children 61 

Drummer Boy 62 

A Scotch Game ♦ 63 

A Cranberry Hunt .........••••. 66 

A Spring Paper Chase 68 

Stagarino ...•...•• 72 

Blowing the Cone 84 

" Bell " Blind Man^s Buff 87 

Games for the Sand Pile or Beach 97 

"Bird Sellers'' 106 

Russian Hole-Ball »••• II4 

Stool-Ball (England) ............ 130 

A Juggling Match I30 

Pebble-Chase (Greek) . 131 

180 



Topical Index 



PAGE 

Buck the Indian 13a 

Three Chinese Games . ••••.••..«• 133 

Japanese Tag * * . . 136 

The "Sandpiper** Game .*.,..• ^ ••• 136 

Moon and Morning Stars 148 

Widower, or Last Couple Out • • • • . 151 

A Hunting Game 152 

Duck on a Rock 153 

An Indian Wigwam Party ,..•.. 162 

The Game of Deerfoot • . . • 164 

Human Ninepins 165 

Barrel Hoop Bean Bag 166 

Snake and Humming Birds . • . 171 

Fox and Geese 171 

Clock Golf .173 

Parties 

A Children's Lawn Party 19 

Red Balloons for a Holiday Party . 35 

A Field Day Party 66 

A Merry April Fool Party 70 

A Bird Party 74 

A Football Party 78 

A Knickerbocker Party 80 

Fairy Party 83 

An April Party 86 

May-Day Fun . . . , 109 

May-Day Parties 113 

A "Grandmother's*' Tea Party , 115 

A Buttercup Party 1 16 

Sweet Pea Tea Party for Children 118 

A Kite Party 120 

A Clothespin Party 127 

181 



Topical Index 



PAGE 

A Baseball Luncheon 129 

New Version of a Peanut Party 134 

Giving a Pea Party 137 

A Paper Party 143 

A Doll Fete 144 

An Animal Party 146 

Circus Suggestions for Parties . 147 

A Bonnet Party 149 

A Gypsy Party 150 

:^An Indian Party 155 

Fun with Buttons 158 

A Spool Party 160 

A Jolly Outdoor Party 161 

Stunts for a Musical Party 163 

A Tree Picnic 169 

A Vagabond Party 172 

Patriotic 

For July Fourth . 25 

Patriotic Entertainment 91 

Pastime for February Twenty- Second 103 

Following the Flag Contest 122 



St. Valentine's Day 



A Valentine Post Office Party 17 

Another Valentine Party ^^,^1^ 18 



si<k^ Thanksgiving 



An Old-Fashioncd Thanksgiving Ill 

The Glad Thanksgiving Time • • • 119 

182 



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